What's Happening?
A significant archaeological discovery in County Wicklow, Ireland, may challenge the long-held belief that the Vikings were the first to establish towns in Ireland. Researchers, led by Dr. Dirk Brandherm
from Queen's University Belfast, have uncovered a large hilltop settlement known as the Brusselstown Ring. This site, dating back to around 1200 BC during the Late Bronze Age, contains over 600 suspected house platforms, making it the largest nucleated settlement found in prehistoric Britain and Ireland. The settlement is part of the Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster in the Wicklow Mountains and includes structures from the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. The findings, published in the journal Antiquity, suggest that this settlement could be considered a proto-town, predating Viking settlements by approximately 2000 years.
Why It's Important?
This discovery has the potential to reshape the understanding of early urban development in Ireland and Britain. The existence of such a large settlement from the Late Bronze Age suggests that complex social structures and possibly early forms of urbanization existed long before the Viking era. This challenges the narrative that the Vikings were the first to introduce town-like settlements to Ireland. The implications extend to the broader understanding of prehistoric societies in the Atlantic Archipelago, highlighting the advanced nature of these communities in terms of architecture and social organization. The discovery could lead to a reevaluation of the historical timeline and the role of indigenous populations in the development of early towns.
What's Next?
Further archaeological work is planned to confirm the dating of the structures and to explore the potential social and economic stratification within the settlement. Researchers will conduct additional excavations and analyses to determine the function of various structures, including a stone-lined chamber believed to be a water cistern. These efforts aim to provide more insights into the daily lives and societal organization of the inhabitants. The findings may prompt a broader investigation into other similar sites across Europe, potentially uncovering more about prehistoric urbanization patterns.
