County: Wicklow Site name: RATHGALL (Rath East)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: B. Raftery, University College Dublin
Site type: Hillfort
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 690131m, N 673140m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.801715, -6.663352
In a brief excavation ramparts 2 and 3 in the south of the site are investigated. These were of uncomplicated dump instruction comprising in each case a heaped-up mound of earth and rubble. Both ramparts were in a heavily denuded state but it is probable that a stout revetment of sizeable slabs supported the faces of both. A deep V-sectioned ditch was covered between the two ramparts. There were no surface indications of this before the excavation.
Preserved under each rampart was a thick grey layer filled with charcoal flecks, fragments of clay moulds and coarse pottery. The ditch had been cut through this layer.
Charcoal in this level provided the following C14 determinations:
1490 ± 120 b.c. (UB-2343);
1830 ± 141 b.c. (UB-2344);
Charcoal from the upper fill of the ditch provided the following C14 determinations:
150 ± 155 ad. (UB-2345)
585 ± 220 ad. (UB-2346);
145 ± 75 ad. (UB-2347);
965 ± 75 b.c. (UB-2348);
485 ± 65 ad, (UB-2350).
The main aim of the investigation was to date the defences. As can be seen from the C14 dates this aim has not been achieved.
