2025:087 - Brusselstown Ring, Wicklow

In continuation of archaeological test excavations carried out at Brusselstown Ring Hillfort in the summer of 2024, two further test trenches were excavated at the site between 31 March and 11 April 2025, in this instance at the south-east and west sides of Brusselstown Ring. The site is located on a south-west spur of the Wicklow Mountains, in the townlands of Spinans Middle, Brusselstown and Castlequarter in Co. Wicklow. The aim of the test excavations was to establish the nature and the date of further micro-topographical anomalies identified in a UAV photogrammetry survey by O’Driscoll in 2017. The more than 600 surface anomalies identified within the uppermost and middle enclosing elements of the site over the course of that survey, if confirmed as prehistoric dwellings, would make Brusselstown Ring the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement site known so far in the island of Ireland.

The two test trenches excavated on two separate micro-topographical anomalies (T3 and T4) on this occasion, each measured 1.5m × 1.5m. T3 was located on ITM 693215.50, 691122.35 and T4 was located on ITM 693104.39, 690936.13. As was the case with the two test trenches excavated the previous year, evidence produced from both newly excavated test trenches is consistent with the presence of anthropogenic prehistoric structures.

T3 produced scattered charcoal throughout Contexts 2 and 3. Context 3, a layer of stones, embedded in a soil matrix indistinguishable in colour or consistency from the topsoil, may represent a prehistoric floor level. In the north-east corner of the trench, Context 9 is interpreted as the likely remains of a hearth feature, characterized by dark charcoal-rich and partially fire-reddened soil surrounded by a number of stake-holes of varying depths (Contexts 4–8). Finds from T3 comprise a single animal bone fragment, a rock crystal, some small burnt clay/poorly-fired pottery fragments and river pebbles, possibly used as tools. Samples for radiocarbon dating were taken from all contexts that produced charcoal.

Test Trench T3

The stratigraphy of T4 was different from the previously excavated test trenches in that due to the intense growth of bracken in this area, it was devoid of any turf layer. The uppermost layer that could be documented in the sections therefore was Context 1, comprising dark greyish-black soil with a very high content of root material. It is possible that the many small stones in the lower part of this layer constituted a prehistoric floor level. However, the ubiquitous penetration of the entire layer by bracken roots, in many instances of quite substantial diameter (c. 2omm), combined with the loose consistency of the soil, meant that it was not possible to expose any significant portions of this stone layer. Directly below this layer sat Context 2, composed of yellowish-brown soil with many small- to medium-sized stones and sparse root material, consistent with the geological subsoil. Context 3, in the south-east corner of the trench, is characterized by many small to large stones, some tilted in a vertical position, embedded in a reddish-brown soil matrix with some small charcoal particles. Those characteristics identify this context as a likely pit infill. The edge of a second pit, Context 4, sat close to the south-west section of the trench, with the infill comprising light reddish-brown mottled soil with some small stones. The amount of charcoal samples recovered from T4 was considerably lower than in the case of T3.