Hillfort

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument in state ownership No. 422. Large circular site consisting of four concentric ramparts (max. diam. c. 320m) enclosing c. 7.3 hectares, on the W edge of a ridge. The site was excavated by Raftery (1970, 51-4). At the centre is a very well-preserved central stone enclosure (diam. c. 45m) defined by a massive drystone rampart (Wth c. 4m) which is medieval in date. The second and third stone ramparts are close together (max. dims. c. 140m and 180m E-W; H of both c. 5m) and lie some 30m outside the inner enclosure. The outermost rampart, of earth and stone, lies a further 50m from this, and is partly preserved in field boundaries. Evidence for metalworking, a cemetery (WI037-016001-) and a round house, all dating to the Late Bronze Age found within the central enclosure. (GSIAP, S 121-2; CUCAP AHK073; CUCAP AHK075 -076; CUCAP AYL 031-035; CUCAP BD050-051) (Orpen 1911, 138-50; 1930, 31-5; Raftery 1970, 51-4; 200-11; Raftery 1972-42-46, 55; Raftery 1976, 339)
This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 146/1940).
The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Circular multiple enclosure positioned surrounding the flat summit of hilltop at the end of a prominent east-west shoulder of upland and overlooking tributary of Derreen River to immediate W (Raftery 1976, 339). The large multiple enclosure of Knockeen situated 300m to N (Atlas No.0722). The site has a total footprint of approximately 6.1ha and consists of four concentric enclosing elements. The inner enclosing element is likely to be an Early Medieval ringfort and the remaining three ramparts are possibly Late Bronze Age. These consist of two closely spaced banks with an intervening ditch and an outer enclosing element positioned approximately 50m away. Two gaps through inner enclosing elements of hillfort (not the Early Medieval ringfort). One possible original entrance at W consisting of a simple gap through the banks and causeway over the ditch. Excavation has revealed a large number of artifacts, pits, structures and four burials within the interior. A metalworking area was identified. This produced a large number of artifacts associated with the manufacturing of bronze objects. Occupation structures dated to the Late Bronze Age were excavated immediately outside the hillfort to the S. The ramparts survive well throughout their circuits and have recently been stripped of scrub and overgrowth. The outer enclosing element has been levelled at the NE. Interior is under pasture. First map depiction in 1842 in first edition Ordnance Survey six inch mapping. Survey by Orpen in 1911. Excavation by Raftery in the late 1960's and early 70's. Late Bronze Age dates, possible Iron Age re-use. ENE section of outer enclosing elements forms the townland boundary between Rath East and Knockeen. A recent listing of 55 radiocarbon dates from Rathgall includes 47 of Late Bronze Age date (Chapple 2013, https://sites.google.com/site/chapplearchaeology/irish-radiocarbon-dendrochronological-dates). Evidence for metalworking and a cemetery within the interior are Late Bronze Age in date. An Iron Age enclosure is concentric with and lies immediately within the central Early Medieval ringfort (Grogan and Kilfeather 1997, 43). Large number of pits and post-holes outside inner enclosure are Late Bronze Age (Raftery 1976, 342). Six hearths within inner enclosure (Raftery 1976, 343). Over 5000 sherds of coarse ware pottery (Raftery 1976, 344). Metal working area and four human burials identified immediately outside the inner Early Medieval enclosure (Raftery 1976, 345).' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0723.html)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

References

Waddell, J. 1998 The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway University Press.

GSIAP - Geological Survey of Ireland Aerial Photographs (c. 1973). Geological Survey. Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin 4.

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Raftery B. 1972 Irish hillforts. In C. Thomas (ed.), The Iron Age in the Irish Sea province, 37-58. London. Council for British Archaeology.

Raftery, B. 1970 The Rathgall hillfort, county Wicklow. Antiquity 44, 51-4.

Raftery, B. 1970 A decorated strap-end from Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 100, 200-211.

Raftery, B. 1994 Pagan Celtic Ireland: the enigma of the Irish Iron Age. London. Thames and Hudson.

Orpen, G.H. 1911 Rathgall, Co. Wicklow. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 41, 138-50.

Orpen, G.H. 1930 Rathgall: the rath of the foreigners. Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society 11, 31-5.

Lock, G. and Ralston, I. 2017 Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland.(Online website at https://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk)

Raftery, B 1976. Rathgall and Irish Hillfort Problems, in D. Harding (ed.) Hillforts: Later Prehistoric Earthworks of Britain and Ireland, 339-57. Academic Press, London.