Brusselstown Ring in County Wicklow is one of the largest hillforts in the Atlantic Archipelago, and with more than 600 potential roundhouse footprints represents the largest prehistoric settlement agglomeration in Britain and Ireland.

Test excavations conducted since 2024 have provided some initial dating evidence, suggesting that the main phases of occupation at Brusselstown Ring fall into the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, with some earlier (Mesolithic) and later (medieval) activity at the site.

This talk will contextualize Brusselstown Ring within the wider landscape of the Baltinglass hillfort cluster, present the findings from the initial test excavations undertaken so far, and try to situate what we know about the site within the wider context of similar settlement agglomerations in Scotland, and Britain and Ireland more widely.

About the Speaker
This talk will be presented by Dr Dirk Brandherm FSA FSAScot MIAI.

Dr Brandherm is a Reader in Prehistory and Archaeology at Queen’s University Belfast. His research focuses on later prehistory, especially the Chalcolithic and Bronze and Iron Ages of Western Europe and the Mediterranean, with particular interests in chronology, artefact studies, and archaeomaterials. He is also known for work on the archaeology of Ireland and for collaborative fieldwork and publication.

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When: Thursday 4 June, 5pm BST

Where: Online via Zoom