2016:046 - HUGHSTOWN, Kildare

In July 2016 a second season of sample excavation was conducted at the prehistoric hillfort of Hughstown, Co. Kildare. The investigation of this site is part of a research project on prehistoric hillforts in Ireland, based in University College Cork and funded by the Irish Research Council. This involved the excavation of a single trench across the third and fourth enclosing elements of this now-levelled hillfort. The location of both trenches was determined by magnetic gradiometry survey. Excavation of the third enclosure (Trench 2) confirmed the presence of a small ditch, with a slot trench on the inside. The latter contained a large amount of charcoal from the burning of wood that may have been part of a palisade. The excavation of the fourth enclosing element (Trench 3) revealed a large ditch, but no trace of an accompanying bank. There are no significant finds from either trench, though samples of charcoal were recovered from primary contexts for radiocarbon dating.