2018:161 - Rathcoran, Wicklow

In 2017, sample excavation on the inner north-west enclosing element uncovered evidence of a light post-built palisade fence supported by low stone and earthen bank. This fence line was subsequently burnt down, leaving a number of in situ burnt timbers and a heavily oxidised earthen bank. After a period, the enclosure was re-built, this time with an additional earth and stone bank, which was overlain with an additional mantle of loose rubble. This second phase of construction was associated with a large stone revetment on the north-eastern side. A number of charcoal samples, associated with the primary phase of building, were recovered for radiocarbon dating. The results confirm that construction and early use of the inner enclosure at Rathcoran occurred during the Early Neolithic.

The central aim of the 2018 season of excavation was to establish whether the Neolithic palisade enclosure, discovered in Trench 1, continues on the south-eastern side of the hillfort and whether the whole circuit was systematically destroyed by fire.

This season of excavation confirmed that the south-eastern section of rampart was also a two-period construction. The excavation established that the Period 1 fence discovered in Trench 1 was of a much larger construction, comprising a double line of posts set within the natural bedrock. Interestingly, this section of the palisade fence was not destroyed by fire. Instead, it appears that the posts were removed prior to the construction of the Period 2 bank. The Period 2 bank sealed these posts, comprising a bank of quarried subsoil overlain with a mantle of sub-rounded granite stone. A large stone revetment on the east side retained a large quantity of stone that filled a space between the earthen bank. It appears that the second period of construction was indeed completed and was of a similar form to that identified in Trench 1. Samples have been submitted for radiocarbon dating.

'Melrose' 5 Palmbury, Togher, Cork