Downshill Excavation Report (2007)

Preliminary report on excavations at Downshill, County Wicklow

Licence Number 07E596

Dr. John Ó Néill

UCD School of Archaeology

31st October 2007

This project was supported by

funding from Royal Irish Academy and Department of

the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

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Contents:

Page

List of Figures 2 List of Plates 2 1. Summary 3 2. Introduction 4 2.1 General 4 2.2 Background 4

2.3 Reason for Excavation and Research Objectives 5 2.4 Archiving 6 2.5 Credits and Acknowledgements 7

3. Excavation 11 3.1 Methodology 11 3.2 Account of the excavations: Trench 1 11

3.3 Account of the excavations: Trench 2 19 3.4 Phasing of the stratigraphic sequences 24 3.5 Artefactural dating 25

4. Results and Discussion 26 4.1 Results 26 4.2 Discussion: Downshill as a hillfort 27

4.3 A note on the cordite blanks 30 5. References 31 Appendix One: Context List 32 Appendix Two: Harris Matrix 33 Appendix Three: Photographic Record 35 Appendix Four: Field Drawing Register 37 Appendix Five: Small Finds Register 38 Appendix Six: Samples Register 39

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List of Figures: Figure Page Figure 1. Location map, showing Downshill (circled). 8 Figure 2. Site as shown on the 1909-1910 edition of the Ordnance

Survey. Location of proposed excavation shown. 9 Figure 3. Plan showing surviving earthworks on Downshill. 10 Figure 4. Plan showing Trench 1 after excavation with bank deposits in

situ (shown as 1008) and the excavated fosse (shown as 1002). 13 Figure 5. Plan showing the two early 20th century pits in Trench 1 (1012

and 1014), relative to the position of the fosse and bank (see figure 4). 14

Figure 6. South-facing section of Trench 1, with context numbers indicating layers as described in the text. 15

Figure 7. Plan showing Trench 2 after excavation with bank deposits in situ (shown as 2005) and the excavated fosse (shown as 2006). 22

Figure 8. West-facing section of Trench 2, with context numbers indicating layers as described in the text. 23

Figure 9. Harris Matrix for Trench 1. 33 Figure 10. Harris Matrix for Trench 2. 34 List of Plates: Plate Page Plate 1. Downshill, subsequent to removal of forestry (from Google Earth). 5 Plate 2. Typical view of the earthwork on Downshill (visible as the raised

bank planted with trees in the centre of the image, with the traces of a fosse to the left). 12

Plate 3. Trench 1 with excavated fosse in centre of image. 16 Plate 4. View across fosse and bank during excavation. 18 Plate 5. Trench 1, Pit 1014. 19 Plate 6. Trench 2, viewed from the north across the fosse and bank, the

area to the right of the upright ranging rod was largely disturbed by tree roots. 25

Plate 7. View of a portion of the earthwork (barely visible up the centre of the image), indicating density of tree planting on the site. 26

Plate 8. Typical view from Trench 2 on Downshill (looking towards, left to right, the Little Sugar Loaf, Bray Head and Kindlestown Hill). 29

Preliminary report on excavations at Downshill, County Wicklow 07E596

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1. Summary

1.1 The archaeological investigations on Downshill in 2007 focused on the bank and

fosse of the hillfort. The archaeological structure is recorded in the RMP for

Wicklow as 13:001 and is located at National Grid Co-ordinates 325290, 210120.

1.2 Downshill had been converted to forestry in the late 1950s prior to a detailed

surveyed of the site. Investigation of the hilltop identified an earthwork in the

location indicated on the 2nd OS maps, partially destroyed by the construction of

earlier field walls and planting of trees. Two trenches were opened to try and

identify the morphology of the bank and fosse and recover dating samples.

1.3 The excavation was directed by Dr. John Ó Néill of UCD School of Archaeology,

and was carried out under licence number 07E596. This programme of work was

supported by funding from the Royal Irish Academy and Department of the

Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

1.4 The earthwork was shown to be a 2-3 m wide bank, with an external fosse which

was up to 2 m wide and 1 m deep. No datable artefactual material was recovered

from the bank or fosse and samples were retained for analysis and, potentially,

radiocarbon dating. Some early twentieth century cartridges were recovered from

pits dug into the line of the fosse in one of the trenches.

1.5 Due to the intensity of the impact of forestry on Downshill, there is no

recommendation being made for further fieldwork. Post-excavation on the

radiocarbon samples is being undertaken in order to complete the excavation and

bring the project to completion and publication.


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2. Introduction

2.1 General

2.1.1 The following report details the preliminary results of the archaeological excavation

at Downshill, undertaken by Dr. John Ó Néill of the School of Archaeology at

University College Dublin in 2007. This programme of work was supported by

funding from the Royal Irish Academy and Department of the Environment,

Heritage and Local Government.

2.2 Background

2.2.1 Downshill, lies 1.5 km to the south-west of the Glen of the Downs and some 6 km

from the coast (figure 1). Heavily planted with forestry in the twentieth century, it

was clear-felled over the last three years and the summit of the hill has now been

free of trees since 2004. Although it is not named on the 1909-1910 edition of the

Ordnance Survey maps, an oval field boundary on the map corresponds with the

circuit of an earthwork which encloses the summit of the hill (see figures 2 and 3

and Plate 1). This was subsequently identified as a hillfort and is recorded as such

in the Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow (Grogan and Kilfeather 1997,

42) and was subsequently listed in the Sites and Monuments Record for County

Wicklow as SMR No:13:1.

2.2.2 The Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow provides the following description

of the site: ‘Subcircular univallate hillfort. The dimensions are c. 360 m from East to

West, and c. 220 m from North to South. Part of the site is depicted on the

Ordnance Survey 6-inch map as a field boundary. The site encloses the summit of

Downshill with steep slopes to the North, East and South and gentler slopes to the

West and has a commanding position on the Western edge of the Glen of the

Downs. The summit is now covered in forestry and the only accessible surviving

part of the rampart is along the south-west side where it forms part of a field

boundary which skirts the plantation. The earth and stone bank (Width 4 m, Height

1.60 m) has near vertical drystone facing (probably not original). The external

fosse (Width 4 m) was also identified to the south-east in the next field in 1989


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during ploughing. The south-east perimeter had apparently not survived’ (Grogan

and Kilfeather 1997, 42).

2.2.3 Previous investigation of Downshill has been confined to monitoring of tree-felling

on the hilltop by Claire Cotter in 2003 (Cotter 2003). Nothing of archaeological

significance was noted in the course of the tree-felling, other than the existence of

a possible mound to the north-west, outside the bank.

Plate 1. Downshill, subsequent to removal of forestry (from Google Earth)

2.3 Reason for Excavation and Research Objectives

2.3.1 The site at Downshill was marked as a univallate hillfort of Raftery’s Class I on

maps in Pagan Celtic Ireland (Raftery 1994), although it was not recognised at the

time of the publication of his initial work on the subject (Raftery 1972). There have


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been detailed investigations of a number of the multivallate hillforts (i.e. Raftery’s

Class II), such as Rathgall, Co. Wicklow (Raftery 1994), Haughey’s Fort, Co.

Armagh (Mallory 1995), Mooghaun, Co. Clare (Grogan 2005), Dún Aonghusa, Inis

Mór (Cotter 1996) and work funded by the RIA National Committee at Cashel in

Co. Cork is ongoing (under Prof. Billy O’Brien). Consistently, evidence that has

suggested a period of occupation of all these sites in the Late Bronze Age,

although individual sites may begin earlier and others continue in use for longer.

However, investigation of the Class I hillforts has been rather more limited, with

Bersu’s excavations of Freestone Hill in Co. Kilkenny (e.g. Raftery 1969; Raftery

1995; Ó Floinn 2000) and Carey’s more recent work at Knockacarrigeen, Co.

Galway (Carey 2002). At Knocknacarrigeen a suitable dating sample was not

recovered for the rampart, although it was similar in morphology to Mooghaun. At

Freestone Hill there was a range of material from Early Bronze Age levels through

to the fourth and fifth century AD. A bag of charcoal which survived from the

excavation was dated to 810-550 BC (GrN-21255), just slightly later than the Late

Bronze Age dates for the other hillforts mentioned above. In the absence of

contextual information this date should still be treated with caution, as a number of

layers are recorded as containing a mixture of early and late material from the site

and, as such, a combined sample such as this may incorporate some Early Bronze

Age charcoal which has made it look early. The univallate hilltop enclosure at

Clenagh, Co. Clare produced a terminus post quem for a ditch at the end of the

Iron Age, although this site is smaller in size that most hillforts (Grogan and Daly

2005). The aim of the excavation at Downshill will be to determine the nature of the

ramparts enclosing the summit and acquire suitable dating samples. This will

contribute towards our understanding of the relationship of univallate and

multivallate hillforts in Ireland, and at the same time, inform our understanding of

the wider context of the Kings River Valley.

2.4 Archiving

2.4.1 A copy of this report has been deposited with the Department of Environment,

Heritage and Local Government and the National Museum of Ireland. All site

records and finds are temporarily archived within the School of Archaeology,

University College Dublin.


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2.5 Credits and Acknowledgements

2.5.1 The excavations were directed by Dr. John Ó Néill of the UCD School of

Archaeology with assistance from Dr Steve Mandal, Bairbre Mullee, Mark Kelly,

Liam Chambers (all CRDS Ltd), Dr. Phil Macdonald (QUB) and students from

various universities. Access to the site was facilitated by Tim O’Regan of Coillte,

the owners of the site, and Emmet Byrnes of the Department of Agriculture. The

work was supported by funding from the Royal Irish Academy and Department of

the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.


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Fig

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Trench 1

Trench 2

Figure 2. Site as shown on the 1909-1910 edition of the Ordnance Survey. Location of excavation trenches shown.


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Fig

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3. Excavation

3.1 Methodology

3.1.1 The initial focus of the 2007 investigations was to produce a post-felling survey of

the hilltop to identify the earthwork identified as a hillfort in the Archaeological

Inventory of County Wicklow and then to open two trenches to try and recover

information as to the morphology of the earthwork and recover potential dating

samples.

3.1.2 The excavations were undertaken by hand and the context record for the site was

created using the standard context recording method. Individual features were

photographed both prior to, and following, excavation and included in a series of

overall plans (Scales 1:10 and 1:20 for modern deposits) of the trench which were

prepared throughout the course of the excavation. Section drawings (Scale 1:20)

were undertaken of the exposed archaeological deposits visible in the baulk (for

details of site photography see Appendix Three and for field illustrations see

Appendix Four). In addition to the photography and illustration, the principal site

records consisted of context sheets augmented by separate registers of small finds

(Appendix Five) and samples (Appendix Six). Following the completion of the site

recording, the excavation trenches were backfilled and re-sodded.

3.1.3 It is intended that the Harris Matrix for the site (see Appendix Two) are referred to

whilst reading the account of the stratigraphic sequence of Trenches One and

Two.

3.2 Account of the excavations: Trench One.

3.2.3 A trench measuring a maximum of 4 m in width and 8 metres in length was opened

on the western side of the earthwork, in an area where the earthwork itself was

clearly visible and the density of tree planting was below the average for the hilltop

(see Plates 2 or 7 for a typical view). The trench extended from the exterior of the

hillfort across the shallow traces of the fosse and over the top of the bank into the


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interior at the eastern end of the trench with two small extensions to the east and

south as shown in figure 4. This account should be read in conjunction with figures

4, 5 and 6, as well as the matrix in figure 9.

Plate 2. Typical view of the earthwork on Downshill (visible as the raised bank planted with trees in the centre of the image, with the traces of a fosse to the left).


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Figure 4. Plan showing Trench 1 after excavation with bank deposits in situ (shown as

1008) and the excavated fosse (shown as 1002).

Limits of bank prior to excavation

Limits of fosse prior to excavation

Limits of 1016 1002

Bank deposits 1008

0 1 m 3 4 N


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Figure 5. Plan showing the two early 20th century pits in Trench 1 (1012 and 1014), relative to the position of the fosse and bank (see figure 4).

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Figure 6. South-facing section of Trench 1, with context numbers indicating layers as described in the text.


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3.2.4 The removal of the sod (1007) exposed the upper portion of the bank (1009),

buried peat (1006) which was subsequently discovered to be the upper fill of the

fosse and glacial till (1000). The sod and active soils (1007) were present to a

depth of 0.15 m and were present across the whole trench, once removed, a layer

of peaty soil (1006) was exposed that extended from the outer face of the bank

down into the fosse on the exterior. This deposit was present to a depth of 0.10 m,

burying the surviving upper surface of the bank and backfilling the fosse. The

removal of this deposit (1006), exposed the surviving bank and the cut for the

fosse and these are discussed separately below.

Plate 3. Trench 1 with excavated fosse in centre of image, showing both the shallower cut (1016) and the deeper, central cut (1002).


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3.2.5 At this location, the bank, as it survived prior to excavation, was 2 m wide, with the

top of the bank standing some 1.30 m above the visible portion of the fosse. The

removal of the sod 1007 and the deposit 1006 exposed a dump of gritty orange

clay (1009), 1.80 m wide and up to 0.50 m deep, which contained some weathered

shale slabs, up to 0.25 m in length. This clay layer (1009) partly covered a layer of

peaty clay which was recorded as 1008. This layer (1008), was not always present

beneath 1009 and was up to 0.50 m wide and 0.20 m deep and contained shale

slabs up to 0.20 m in length. The peaty clay (1008) and, where that layer was not

present, the orange clay layer (1009), overlay a buried peaty soil horizon, recorded

as 1001, which was up to 0.15 m deep. The external (i.e. western) face of the bank

deposits followed the profile of the original ground surface and there was no

evidence of an original facing to the bank. The interior face of the bank appears to

have been truncated during forestry works. None of the deposits described here

produced any artefactual material and screening of the soils failed to produce

charred plant material.

3.2.6 The cut for the fosse was also exposed on removal of deposit 1006. The surface of

the glacial till, 1000, was exposed on the exterior, i.e. western, side of the bank (as

described above) from where it sloped gently towards the west, dropping some 1

m in height over a distance of 10 m. The fosse was also cut through an earlier soil

horizon on the exterior of the earthwork, recorded as 1017. Directly beyond the

western limits of the bank deposits (i.e. 1008 and 1009), a portion of the glacial till

had been removed in a 2.50 m wide cut, 1016, parallel to the external face of the

bank, up to 0.40 m deep and with a V-shaped profile and concave base. The base

of this feature had been deepened along the 4 m from the northern baulk to give a

funnel-shaped profile. The remaining portion of 1016 extended parallel to the bank

but without the added deeper section This latter feature was recorded separately,

as 1002, as it was distinct from 1016 and was not continuously present within 1016

(see Plate 3). This part of the fosse was up 0.70 m wide and 0.50 m deep, with

steep sides and a fairly flat base.

3.2.7 The excavation of Trench 1 indicated that the bank had been constructed by

depositing 1009 and 1008 onto the old ground surface (1001), to an overall


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surviving height of 0.90 m and measuring 1.80 m in width. The external fosse was

identified as two distinct ‘cuts’, 1002 and 1016, both apparently executed as part

of the same phase of construction. This provided a fosse that was up to 0.90 m in

depth and up to 2.50 m in width. Taken together, the bank and fosse provided an

obstacle measuring some 4.40 m in width (see Plate 5), with a difference in height

of almost 2 m between the base of the fosse and the surviving top of the bank.

3.2.8 The base of the fosse (1002) contained a 0.10 m deep deposit of silty clay (1003)

with few identifiable organic inclusions. This was overlain by a 0.40 m deep deposit

of silty clay (1004), with a high proportion of pieces of angular and subangular

shale and granite, up to 0.25 m in length. There were no finds from either of these

deposits. The fill of the top of 1012 and 1016 was a fine peaty clay (1005), up to

0.25 m deep, which was overlain by layers 1006 and 1007 which are described in

section 3.2.5 above.

Plate 4. View across fosse and bank during excavation.


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3.2.9 Two pits, 1012 and 1014, had been cut through 1007, into the line of the fosse,

and backfilled with a mixed deposit, apparently derived from 1004, 1005 and 1006.

The upper fill of both pits was a yellow-orange silty, sandy clay, 1010 which was

spread across an area measuring 2.30 m by 0.80 m and up to 0.25 m deep. This

deposit (1010) was exposed directly beneath the sod layer (1007) and overlay the

soil layer 1006 which were present across the whole trench. The pit 1012 was fully

contained within the trench and measured 1.30 m (north-south) by 0.60 m and was

0.50 m deep. It had been cut though 1006 and backfilled with a mixed deposit of

peat, clay and stones which was recorded as 1013 and the upper fill contained

1010. The only finds from this pit were 14 star-crimped brass cartridges, some of

which had the head stamp ‘K C VI’ and may have been originally wrapped in

cardboard or paper. The pit 1014 extended beyond the southern limits of the

trench (see Plate 5). The excavated portion measured 0.50 m (north-south) by

0.80 m and was 0.50 m deep. It had been cut though 1006 and, similar to 1012,

backfilled with a mixed deposit of peat, clay and stones which was recorded as

1015, while the upper fill consisted of 1010. The only finds from this pit were 11

cartridges, some of which have the visible head stamp ‘R /|\ L C VI’.

Plate 5. Trench 1, Pit 1014.


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3.3 Account of the excavations: Trench Two

3.3.1 A second trench measuring a maximum of 4 m in width and 10 metres in length

was opened on the northern side of the earthwork, in an area where the earthwork

itself was fairly well defined and the density of tree planting was below the average

for the hilltop. The trench extended from the exterior of the hillfort (to the north)

across the shallow traces of the fosse and over the top of the bank into the interior

at the southern end of the trench. There was one large root system present in the

trench across a portion of the bank and one close to the eastern side of the trench.

This account should be read in conjunction with figures 7 and 8 and Plate 6 and

figure 10.

3.3.2 The removal of the sod (2001) and peaty soils (2004) exposed the upper portion of

the bank (2005). The sod and active soils (2001 and 2004) were present to a depth

of 0.40 m and were present across the whole trench. In the areas around the root

systems on the bank (recorded as 2003) and the eastern end of the trench

(recorded as 2002), the root systems had caused considerable disturbance which

extended from the sod and upper surface of 2004 down through any earlier

deposits. The layer of peaty soil (2004) was present to a depth of 0.25 m, burying

the surviving upper surface of the bank and backfilling the fosse. The removal of

this deposit (2004), exposed the surviving bank and the cut for the fosse and these

are discussed separately below.

3.3.3 At this location, the bank, as it survived prior to excavation, was 3 m wide, with the

top of the bank standing some 1.20 m above the visible portion of the fosse. The

removal of the sod 2001 and the deposit 2004 exposed a dump of peaty orange

clay (2005), 2.10 m wide and up to 0.30 m deep, which contained some weathered

shale slabs, up to 0.15 m in length. This layer (2005) tapered out to the interior of

the site (i.e. to the south) and to the exterior (i.e. to the north) where the ground

sloped down to the north. This layer (2005), overlay a buried peaty soil horizon,

recorded as 2009, which was up to 0.15 m deep. There was no evidence of an

original facing to the bank. None of the deposits described here produced any


21

artefactual material and screening of the soils failed to produce charred plant

material.

3.3.4 The cut for the fosse was also exposed on removal of deposit 2004. The surface of

the glacial till, 2000, was exposed on the exterior, i.e. northern, side of the bank

(as described above) from where it sloped gently towards the north, dropping

some 1.50 m in height over a distance of 10 m. Directly beyond the northern limits

of the bank deposit (i.e. 2005), a portion of the glacial till had been removed in a

2.20 m wide cut, 2006, parallel to the external face of the bank, up to 1.00 m deep

and with a rough V-shaped profile with a smoothed concave base. The base of this

feature may have been deepened give a funnel-shaped profile but the extent of the

root disturbance (2003) in this area close to the western limits of the trench

precluded identifying this cut clearly during the excavation.

3.3.5 The excavation of Trench 2 indicated that the bank had been constructed by

depositing 2005 and onto the old ground surface (2009), to an overall surviving

height of 0.40 m and measuring 2.10 m in width. The external fosse was identified

as one distinct ‘cut’, 2006 similar to 1016 in Trench 1. The possibility that another

discontinuous section, similar to 1002, was present could not be ruled out as the

root disturbance 2003 obscured this area of the trench. As present during the

excavation, 2006 provided a fosse that was up to 0.70 m in depth and up to 1.80 m

in width. Taken together, the bank and fosse provided an obstacle measuring

some 4.00 m in width, with a difference in height of almost 1.50 m between the

base of the fosse and the surviving top of the bank.

3.3.6 The base of the fosse (2006) contained a 0.10 m deep deposit of silty clay (2008)

with few identifiable organic inclusions. This was overlain by a 0.40 m deep deposit

of silty clay (2007), which contained some pieces of angular and subangular shale

and granite, up to 0.15 m in length. There were no finds from either of these

deposits. The upper portion of 2006 was the peaty clay (2004), up to 0.20 m deep,

which overlay an older soil horizon (2010) on the northern (exterior) side of the

fosse, beyond the edge of 2006.


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Figure 7. Plan showing Trench 2 after excavation with bank deposits in situ (shown as 2005) and the excavated fosse (shown as 2006).

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Figure 8. West-facing section of Trench 2, with context numbers indicating layers as described in the text.


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3.4 Phasing of the stratigraphic sequences

3.4.1 A number of statements can be made about the stratigraphic relationships, as

recorded during excavation (see Appendix 2 for Harris Matrices). The earliest soils

identified in Trenches 1 and 2 were old soil horizons stratified below the bank

deposits in Trench 1 (i.e. 1001 beneath 1008 and 1009, and 1017 beneath 1006)

and Trench 2 (i.e. 2009 beneath 2005 and 2004, and, 2010 beneath 2004).

3.4.2 In both trenches, there was no clear stratigraphic relationship between the bank

and fosse to suggest the sequence of construction. The cuts for the fosse,

1002/1016 and 2006, both accentuated the profile of the slope at that particular

location and removed the earlier soil layers. The bank deposits (1008/1009 in

Trench 1 and 2005 in Trench 2) were placed just beyond the highest point at which

the fosse was cut, confirming their relationship and suggesting the were conceived

as a single entity, and constructed as such.

3.4.3 Following the initial construction, the fosse acquired a deposit of silty clay soil in it’s

base in both trenches, followed by a mixed deposit of stone, clay and peat. This

was then followed by a protracted episode where, the fosse having become

backfilled, natural soil formation processes sealed the fosse and bank beneath an

active soil layer and sod.

3.4.4 Early twentieth century activity led to the opening and backfilling of two pits (1012

and 1014) in Trench 1. This was followed by disturance associated with the

conversion of the site to a forestry plantation in the late 1950s.

3.5 Artefactual Dating

3.5.1 The only artefactual material recovered during the excavation were the cartridge

cases recovered from the fills of 1012 and 1014.

3.5.2 Some cartridge cases were recovered from these two features. These include 10

expended and 15 unfired .303 star-crimped rounds with the headstamps ‘K C VI’


25

and ‘R /|\ L C VI’, indicating Kynochs/Cordite/Mark VI and Royal Laboratory,

Woolwich Arsenal/Cordite/Mark VI (Tebbutt 2005; additional information from the

International Ammunition Association). As date stamping of cartridge cases was

introducted in 1908, both appear to have been manufactured prior to this date. The

Kynoch blanks were manufactured in the Kynochs factory in Birmingham in either

1907 or 1908, as 1907 saw the discontinutation of brass mock bullets on blanks

due to accidental deaths. The Royal Laboratory Arsenal blanks must have been

manufactured at around the same time. As these blanks could be viable for up to

30 years or more, there is no clear evidence to suggest the context in which they

were fired. Some of the unexpended Kynoch cartridges were found lying side-by-

side with what appeared to be traces of a wrapping.

Plate 6. Trench 2, viewed from the north across the fosse and bank, the area to the right of the upright ranging rod was largely disturbed by tree roots.


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4. Results and Discussion

4.1 Results

4.1.1 The aim of the excavation at Downshill was to determine the nature of the

ramparts enclosing the summit and acquire suitable dating samples. The

earthwork which has been identified in the Archaeological Inventory of County

Wicklow as a univallate hillfort was relocated on the ground following the

harvesting of the forestry which was planted on the site in the late 1950s. Despite

precautionary measures undertaken during the harvesting works, the long term

damage from root penetration and initial forestry works has reduced the earthwork

to a relatively poor condition with some sections no longer visible due to planting

ridges (see Plate 7 below).

Plate 7. View of a portion of the earthwork (barely visible up the centre of the image),

indicating density of tree planting on the site.


27

4.1.2 Where profiles of the ramparts could be re-established, recorded, and in two

instances, excavated, it was clear that a bank of clay, and possibly sod, had been

erected and a shallow fosse excavated to accentuate the natural slope of the hill.

The fosse appears to have been deepened in discontinuous sections to further

enhance the steepness of the slope. There is no clear evidence of entrances,

although significant portions of the earthwork have been removed completely or

are superficially visible amongst the tree roots and planting ridges.

4.1.3 The only samples that may produce suitable candidates for dating are those that

have been recovered from the fosse. These are currently being processed and

examined prior to applying for the permission of the National Museum of Ireland to

submit them for radiocarbon dating.

4.2 Discussion: Downshill as a hillfort.

4.2.1 The investigations at Downshill confirmed the presence of the enclosing feature

indicated on the 2nd edition of the Ordnance Survey maps. This survives as a low

earthwork set on sloping ground, 2 - 3 m in width and up to 0.50 m in height,

encircled by a shallow fosse. Excavation has indicated that this was originally

constructed by digging the fosse to exaggerate the slope of the ground and placing

a clay and sod bank on the upslope side and deepening the fosse in non-

continuous sections. While much of the backfill that was present in the fosse was

stone, there was no evidence of a previous facing of stone on the bank. The clay,

sod and stone used for the bank is likely to have been have been quarried from the

fosse and placed further upslope. The quantity of the backfill in the fosse, which

probably originated as eroded material from the bank, suggests that originally the

bank could have been twice as high and, together with the fosse, formed a

reasonable defensive obstacle. The bank with a stone face that forms the modern

field boundary, and noted during the published survey (Grogan and Kilfeather

1997, 42), runs along the southern side of the site and has been built onto the

original earthwork.

4.2.2 The most recent, and most detailed, review of hillfort studies in Ireland is given by

Grogan (2005), indicating that, of 43 identified univallate hillforts, Downshill is only


28

surpassed in size by Lyles Hill in Antrim, and, Caherdrinny and Claraghatlea South

in Cork, and, Laghtea in Tipperary (Grogan 2005, Tables 7.1 and 7.2). Current

dating evidence now seems to suggest two distinct episodes of hillfort construction

with some built around the 12th century BC, such as Rathgall, Co. Wicklow (Raftery

1994) and Haughey’s Fort, Co. Armagh (Mallory 1995; possibly continuing to the

9th century BC – see Grogan 2005, 129). A similar date has been suggested by

recent work, funded by the RIA National Committee, at Cashel in Co. Cork under

Prof. Billy O’Brien. Others appear to have been constructed some time in the 9th

century BC, such as: Mooghaun, Co. Clare which has been dated to 895-842 BC

(Grogan 2005, 129); Dún Aonghusa on Inis Mór which has been dated to before

950-540 BC (Cotter 1996); a date of 810-550 BC (GrN-21255) was returned from

some charcoal that survived from the excavation at the univallate hillfort on

Freestone Hill in Co. Kilkenny (e.g. Raftery 1969; Raftery 1995; Ó Floinn 2000);

and, most recently, a date of 994-827 BC was returned for a sample from the inner

ditch of a multivallate hillfort at Rahally in County Galway (O’Sullivan 2007, 89). It

is hoped that material recovered from the samples at Downshill can be

successfully dated to suggest whether it fits in with one of these episodes. It is

hoped that this will shed some light on the dating of univallate hillforts as the only

current example is Freestone Hill, which may be unreliable (see.2.3.1 above).

4.2.3 The location of Downshill, at an elevation of 339 m OD, provides a significant

panoramic vista encompassing much of the Wicklow coast, Dublin bay and

northwards along the coast with both the Mourne Mountains and Wales visible on

a clear day (see Plate 8 below). The hilltop defences, in their surviving form, do not

appear to represent an insurmountable obstacle to a determined attacker,

although, as discussed above, the original height of the bank and the fosse may

have further accentuated the slope of the ground. The discontinuous nature of the

deeper base of the fosse does not particularly strengthen an argument as to the

tactical defence of the site. However, given that Downshill is only one of a number

of hills in the area which may suitably accommodate a hillfort, the reason for its

selection may be more closely related to the panoramic view from the top and its

strategic qualities. The construction of some 925 m of rampart on Downshill,

totalling some 2,000 m³, or 3,000 tons of earth, suggesting a project involving

significant numbers of people. While it could be argued that tactical defences


29

would be erected that might be capable of withstanding an assault in the

contemporary mode of warfare (and so, by extension, it should allow us to assess

what that mode might be), it is equally possible, that the vision behind this project

was strategic rather than tactical. In this case, the society responsible for the

project may have been concerned with providing a highly visible (and so,

reassuring) hilltop redoubt that might act as an early warning system for mobile

incursions from outside the area.

Plate 8. Typical view from Trench 2 on Downshill (looking towards, left to right, the Little Sugar Loaf, Bray Head and Kindlestown Hill).

4.2.4 While Downshill itself is located beyond the reaches of the Kings River Valley

which has been the focus of a number of research projects by the UCD School of

Archaeology, it may have be a significant strategic focus for the coastal plain to the

east of the Kings River Valley in the Late Bronze Age.


30

4.3 A note on the Cordite blanks.

4.2.1 The blank cartridges recovered from the two pits in Trench 1 may relate to an

unrecorded episode of activity on the hilltop in the early 20th century. The field

boundary to the south-east of the site is flanked by a series of irregularities which

may pre-date the planting of forestry on the site. These continue up the slope of

the hill where they have damaged a portion of the earthwork (to the immediate

north of Trench 1). Investigation of eroding deposits in the area to the north of

Trench 1 showed that this area of disturbance was dug to a depth of around 1 m

and seem to represent a phase of dugout construction relating to military activity

on the hill. While this was not the focus of the 2007 investigations, the date of the

cartridges does not preclude the possibility that this relates to the period of the War

of Independence or Civil War which may be of interest by the time of the

centenaries of these events from 2016 onwards. Further research may identify

records of this activity and clarify this matter.


31

5. References

Carey, A. 2002. Excavations at Knockcarrigeen Hill, Tuam, Co. Galway, JGAHS 54, 55-

71. Cotter, C. 1996 Dùn Aonghusa, Kilmurvey, Inis Mòr, Cliff Fort, in I. Bennett (ed)

Excavations 1995, 36-37. Cotter, C. 2003 Monitoring of Tree-felling at Downshill. Unpublished report. Grogan, E. 2005 The North Munster Project. Dublin. Grogan, E. and Daly, A. 1997.Excavations at Clenagh, Co. Clare, in E.Grogan The North

Munster Project, 247-255. Dublin. Grogan, E. and Kilfeather, A. 1997. Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow. Dublin. Mallory, J. 1995 Haughey’s Fort and the Navan Complex in the Late Bronze Age, in J.

Waddell and E.S.Twohig (eds) Ireland in the Bronze Age, 73-86. Dublin. Ó Floinn, R. 2000. Freestone Hill, Co. Kilkenny: a reassessment, in A. Smyth (ed)

Seanchas: Studies in Early and medieval Irish archaeology, history and literature in honour of Francis J. Byrne. Dublin.

O’Sullivan, J. 2007 The quiet landscape: archaeological discoveries on a road scheme in

east Galway. In J. O’Sullivan and M. Stanley (eds) New routes to the past, 81-100. Archaeology and the National Roads Authority Monograph Series, No. 4.

Raftery, B. 1969. Freestone Hill, Co. Kilkenny: an Iron Age hillfort and Bronze Age cairn,

PRIA 68C, 1-108. Raftery, B. 1972. Irish Hill-forts, in C. Thomas (ed) The Iron Age in the Irish Sea

Province, 37-58. London. Raftery, B. 1994. Pagan Celtic Ireland. London. Tebbutt, R 2005 .303 British Service Cartridge. The Drop Zone, Vol. 3:1.


32

Appendix One: Context List

Context No.

Trench No.

Description

1000 1 Glacial Till

1001 1 Compact peaty soil beneath bank

1002 1 Steep sided cut in base of 1016

1003 1 Silty clay in base of 1002

1004 1 Silty clay layer, high proportion of stone, overlies 1003

1005 1 Fine peaty clay overlying 1004

1006 1 Silty peaty soil

1007 1 Active soil layer and sod

1008 1 Deposit of peaty clay in bank (possibly sods)

1009 1 Gritty orange clay deposit (part of bank)

1010 1 Deposit of sandy clay soil – fills top of 1012 and 1014

1011 1 Peaty soil – same as 1007 (number not used in text)

1012 1 Pit dating 20th century

1013 1 Fill of 1012

1014 1 Pit dating 20th century

1015 1 Fill of 1014

1016 1 Shallow, round-bottomed cut for fosse

1017 1 Compact peaty soil outside fosse, similar to 1001

2000 2 Glacial till

2001 2 Active soil layer and sod

2002 2 Tree root system and associated disturbance

2003 2 Tree root system and associated disturbance

2004 2 Silty peaty soil

2005 2 Peaty orange clay (bank)

2006 2 Cut for fosse

2007 2 Fine peaty clay overlying 2008 in 2006

2008 2 Silty clay in base of 2006

2009 2 Compact peaty soil (buried soil below bank)

2010 2 Compact peaty soil (buried soil outside fosse)


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Appendix Two: Harris Matrix

Figure 9. Harris Matrix for Trench 1


34

Figure 10. Harris Matrix for Trench 2.


35

Appendix Three: Photographic Record Film One: Nikon Coolpix (archived as jpeg images at UCD School of Archaeology) Frame Description (file caption):

1. Disturbed area north of Trench 1 2. Earthworks 1 3. Earthworks 2 4. Earthworks 3 5. Earthworks and tree line 6. Earthworks showing tree stumps 7. Field boundary 8. Northwest corner of earthwork 9. Record shot 10. Record shot 11. Record shot 12. Record shot 13. Trench 1 Bank 14. Trench 1 Bank from North 15. Trench 1 during recording 16. Trench 1 from disturbed area 17. View from Trench 1 to the Sugarloaf 18. View of Trench 1 from north 19. Well preserved earthwork on north side 20. Pit 1014 21. Pit 1014 and cut 1016 22. Close up of 1014 23. Contexts 1002 and 1016 24. Contexts 1002 1016 1014 25. Fosse post ex shot 26. Fosse post ex shot 27. Trench 1 post ex 28. Fosse and bank 29. Trench 1 from South 30. Bank in section in Trench 1 31. 1002 and 1016 in section 32. Possible ‘dugout’ to north of Trench 1 33. Disturbed area (20th century disturbance) 34. Disturbance along field boundary 35. Disturbance along field boundary 36. Disturbance along field boundary 37. Disturbance along field boundary 38. View from interior to east beyond Trench 1 39. View of Trench 1 from West 40. View of Trench 1 41. Working Shot


36

42. Trench being recorded 43. View to north from Trench 2 44. Record shot Trench 2 45. Trench 2 tree root disturbance 46. Record shot of root disturbance 47. Record shot of root disturbance 48. Record shot of root disturbance 49. Record shot of root disturbance 50. 2000 beneath bank in Trench 2 51. Trench 2, C2006 52. Trench 2, C2006 53. Trench 2, C2006 with root systems 54. Close up of 2007 and 2008 55. Disturbance by roots of 2001 and 2004, Tr 2 56. View from outside fosse in Tr 2 57. Tr 2 fosse and bank 58. Tr 2 record shot post ex 59. 2006 with root disturbance 60. View to east from Tr 2 61. Tr 2 view – record shot 62. Backfilling shot 63. Backfilling shot 64. Backfilling shot


37

Appendix Four: Field Drawing Register

Drawing Description Type Scale

Earthwork Profile 1 Profile 1:10
























Trench 1 features Plan 1:20

Trench 1 (south-facing) Section 1:10

Trench 1 (north-facing) Section 1:10

Trench 2 features Plan 1:20

Trench 2 (east-facing) Section 1:10

Trench 2 (west-facing) Section 1:10


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Appendix Five: Small Finds Register

Find no. Material Object Trench Context

1 copper alloy cartridge case 1 1013


























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Appendix Six: Samples Register

The following samples were retained for analysis for plant macro, charcoal and

other significant materials:

Sample No Trench Context

Sample 1 Trench 1 C1005






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Downshill Excavation Report (2007)

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