The Ancient Metropolis of Ireland: Sensational Discovery Changes History

Archaeologists Found the Largest Prehistoric Settlement in Britain and Ireland: Bronze Age History is Being Rewritten

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to Interesting Engineering, scientists have made a sensational discovery that forces a new look at the development of ancient settlements.

According to a study published in the scientific journal Antiquity, archaeologists have discovered a giant Bronze Age settlement surrounded by two ring structures and containing about 600 houses. The find is located in the Baltinglass hillfort complex, spanning 13 hilltops. The majestic landscape of this area became home to monumental archaeological discoveries from the early Neolithic and Bronze Age.

"As the oldest and largest concentration of houses to date, the Brusselstown Ring represents an intriguing example for understanding settlement dynamics in Bronze Age Ireland. This means: proto-urban development in Northern Europe may have occurred almost 500 years earlier than traditionally thought," the study authors claim.

Archaeologists discovered an early prototype of a city "500 years earlier than traditionally thought."

The oldest Irish city

The uniqueness of the find lies in its location - County Wicklow, Ireland. The complex is located inside a monumental structure known as the Brusselstown Ring, consisting of two fortification walls: an outer one surrounding the village, and a smaller one located in the center of the hill.

Aerial photography revealed 509 houses scattered around the outskirts of the city center, although the exact purpose of these enclosures remains a mystery. In the central part of the settlement, a compact cluster of 98 houses was discovered.

Radiocarbon analysis unambiguously dated the settlement to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (3700-800 BCE). On this hilly territory, archaeologists discovered other enclosures as well. So far, only four excavations have been conducted in areas with "high density of protrusions," where trenches were laid over house platforms. The study authors explain:

"In Trench 1, a layer of pebbles corresponding to a floor was discovered, as well as evidence of a major fire. In Trench 3, part of a hearth was found surrounded by a series of stake holes, and in Trenches 2 and 4, traces of pits and other potential stake holes were found. As is typical for Irish hillforts, the set of artifacts was sparse and consisted of a small number of stone tools and burnt clay."

Presence of fresh water

It is particularly noted that water has always been a crucial resource for any civilization. During excavations, archaeologists made another unique discovery – presumably the first water cistern in Ireland. Scientists describe it as a "unique structure outlined by large stones." Apparently, a stream flowed into this structure from a rocky outcrop located above, providing the large settlement with fresh water.

Having discovered such a developed and prosperous settlement that was significantly ahead of its time, researchers questioned the reasons for its abandonment. Comparing data on this amazing settlement with other mountain settlements in Ireland, archaeologists concluded that its history fits into the general regional decline, the causes of which are not yet linked to climate change.

"Future research will focus on confirming the nature and dating of the potential cistern, identifying the structural features of prehistoric round houses, and establishing the nature and chronology of surrounding elements," the study concludes.