2011:644 - RATHGALL HILLFORT, RATH EAST, Wicklow

Testing was undertaken on behalf of the Office of Public Works in advance of a proposed car-park development adjacent to Rathgall Hillfort, which is a National Monument in state guardianship.

Three test trenches were excavated within the car-park area, which measured 32m by 30m. This assessment followed on from a geophysical survey of the development area, which was carried out by Earthsound Archaeological Geophysics during December 2009 (Licence Ref. 09R234). The magnetic gradiometer survey suggested the presence of two oval ditches and two curvilinear magnetic trends. Two linear ditches were also detected, interpreted as possibly agricultural in origin, along with an undulating trend of magnetic enhancement. The earth resistance survey revealed a series of possibly related arcing ditches which crossed and bound an area of high resistance suggestive of archaeological activity. Also detected was a linear feature and cultivation ridges, possibly forming part of a ridge-and-furrow cultivation system. The location of the geophysical anomalies dictated the position of the test trenches across the proposed development area. All soils removed during the testing were subject to a metal-detection survey (R259).

Testing identified a number of south-west/north-east-aligned plough furrows which traversed all three test trenches. These represent the remains of ridge-and-furrow cultivation possibly dating from the medieval or post-medieval period. No finds were retrieved from the plough furrows themselves, although both medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds were recovered from the topsoil. No other features of archaeological significance were identified during the course of testing.

It was recommended that all ground disturbances associated with the proposed development should be monitored.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow