#HillfortsWednesday #Celtic: `Largest nucleated settlement in the entirety of prehistoric Britain and Ireland discovered in the Wicklow Mountains.
"Given its exceptional size, density of occupation and architectural complexity, Brusselstown Ring represents a unique case within both the Baltinglass hillfort cluster and more widely within the Atlantic Archipelago."
"The available evidence indicates their occupation mainly during the Late Bronze Age, with continued use or reuse of some house platforms in the Early Iron Age.
"This makes Brusselstown Ring the largest nucleated settlement agglomeration by far in prehistoric Ireland and Britain," the study highlighted.`
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyw59v8978o

#HillfortsWednesday #Celtic: `On the 1231 m high Gerschkogel in the Mur valley, Styria, there was a large #IronAge hilltop settlement of just over 11 ha with multiple staggered section fortifications, the maximum height of which is (estimated) about 30 m. Like the walls, the gate complex with rampart, ditch, section/rampart and wall crest is extraordinarily well preserved.
The strategically favourable location offers excellent lines of sight into the surrounding valleys, whose valley floors lie at 500m and 380m respectively. This was probably the highest prehistoric hilltop settlement in the south-eastern Alps. Traces of several old mining districts can be found in the immediate vicinity of the Gerschkogel.`
Source: Wolfgang Artner - Eine befestigte eisenzeitliche Höhensiedlung auf dem Gerschkogel bei St. Georgen ob Judenburg, Styria

#HillfortsWednesday #Celtic: `The Saint-Symphorien camp is located in the heart of Brittany, on the crest of a hill which has long been a major transport route. Extensive excavations have shown it to be unique as a fortified oppidum-type settlement in that it was based on an aristocratic residence, founded at the end of the sixth century BC. The continuous development of the settlement appears to indicate that the site remained in the hands of the same family for over five hundred years.
The fortress continued to grow until the early second century BC. It consisted of a central courtyard containing the most important buildings, and a forecourt defended by massive banks and ditches. During the second century BC, the settlement was fortified with a 1.5km long Pfostenschlitzmauer rampart. During the last stage of development, yet another external defence was added, reinforcing the earlier walls. The site was eventually demolished just before the end of the first century BC.`
Source: Le musée de Bibracte

#HillfortsWednesday #Celtic: `The layout of the Bratislava oppidum consisted of three parts. Its heart was a citadel atop Bratislava Castle Hill, overlooking a fortified inner settlement (on the site of today's Old Town), and an unfortified outer settlement (on Námestie Slobody Square) whose inhabitants specialised in pottery production. The total area of the late-La Tène settlement was approximately 98 ha, of which the fortified part covered about 20 ha. The citadel was defended by an earth-and-timber rampart with a dry-stone outer facing, and a V-shaped ditch.
The inhabitants of the settlement outside the fortified area were skilled craftsmen. In the western section of the area a number of workshop installations related to the processing of non-ferrous metals have been discovered, as well as two iron-smelting furnaces. Eastwards of Michalská Street, as far as Uršulínska Street, multiple finds of pottery kilns (two-chamber updraught kilns) have been made. Other clusters of pottery kilns have been discovered in Námestie Slobody Square and at nearby locations.`
Source: Slovenské národné múzeum, Bratislava

#HillfortsWednesday: `The historical development of the south-western territory of Slovakia in the late La Tène period (from 125 BC to the turn of the millennium) is associated with the presence of the Boii, a group of #Celtic tribes. Typical for the period were large fortified settlements, known as oppida - a term borrowed from the Latin language. These early urban settlements were centres of administration, manufacture and trade, but in the case of need they also provided refuge for dwellers from neighbouring unfortified villages.
The emergence of the Celtic oppidum in the territory of today's Bratislava in the late 2nd century BC was determined by a number of factors: favourable topography, the role of the site as a hub of transcontinental trade routes, the availability of natural resources and excellent agricultural conditions.`
Source: Slovenské národné múzeum, Bratislava

Hillfort in Maridalsvannet in Oslo, Norway. There are over 460 hillforts in Norway. First ever hillfort was described by chaplain Hans Jørgen Helsing in 1743 who thought them to be offering places to the pagan gods. #HillfortsWednesday

A view from the Tjuvkil hillfort in Lycke, Västra Götaland, Sweden. It is 45 m above sea level in a forest. It is 440 by 200 m in size on the hilltop. It is a typical Iron Age constructionwith stone walls with associated nearby remains such as stone settings and settlements. #HillfortsWednesday

Defenses at the Heponiemi hillfort in Ihari, Kangasala in Finland. It may be Iron Age and/or Medieval. In 2010s some metal detectors found a horse shoe and related nails but reburied them. #HillfortsWednesday

West Addinston in Scotland occupies the southern spur of Addinston Hill overlooking the junction of two burns. The hillfort is 82 m by 50 m and has 3-metre-deep internal ditch, wave-like mound, and multiple earthen ramparts. It has extensive views along the Leader Water. #HillfortsWednesday