Dún Ailinne
Encyclopedia
Dún Ailinne, on the hill called Knockaulin, is a large enclosed archaeological site in County Kildare
, Ireland
. It lies close to the modern N78 road to Athy
, south-west of Kilcullen
(or, in full, Kilcullen Bridge), and immediately adjacent to the lower rise on which sits Old Kilcullen
. The site comprises 13 hectares surrounded by a ditch or "henge
". At 183 metres above sea level, the hilltop holds a commanding view of the entire region, from the Wicklow Mountains
in the east to the Bog of Allen
in the west.
Dún Ailinne was a royal site for the Kings of Leinster, analogous to Tara
(Kings of Meath), Emhain Macha (Navan Fort, Kings of Ulster), Cnoc Cruachain (athcroghan]Rathcroghan] Kings of Connacht) and perhaps Cashel
(Kings of Munster). All were hilltop features.
period, but the main activity there was during the Iron Age
, when it is believed that Dún Ailinne served as a royal centre and inaugural or ceremonial site for the Kings of Leinster
. There is no evidence suggesting the site was inhabited in the conventional sense, but instead was mostly used for more short-term activity, including ritual. References to it having been a "palace" of the Kings of Leinster are now considered inaccurate. This makes it analogous to the earlier Neolithic henges rather than the contemporary Iron Age
hillforts (Johnston and Wailes 2007). It appears to have been occupied during the Spring/Summer months and the evidence of cooking and eating meat has surfaced during excavation to include large quantities of bones from cows, sheep, pigs, deer and horses (Crabtree 2007, in Johnston and Wailes 2007). In terms of its ritual use, the internal structures and arrangement, and its location and association, is similar to the other Iron Age sites of Tara, Navan, and Rathcroghan (Johnston 2006). While it figures in occasional early historical references, Dún Ailinne was largely abandoned around the time the early Christian settlement at Old Kilcullen
was established in the 6th century.
bronze fibulae (Johnston and Wailes 2007).
research between 1968 and 1975 by a team from the University of Pennsylvania
led by Bernard Wailes. More recently, a geophysical survey of the interior was carried out by a joint American and Irish team (Johnston, Campana, and Crabtree 2009). This revealed a large number of new subsurface features whose character is uncertain.
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It lies close to the modern N78 road to Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, south-west of Kilcullen
Kilcullen
Kilcullen , formally Kilcullen Bridge, is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 2,985 makes it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growing in the county, having doubled in population from 1,483 in the census of 2002...
(or, in full, Kilcullen Bridge), and immediately adjacent to the lower rise on which sits Old Kilcullen
Old Kilcullen
Old Kilcullen, formerly Kilcullen , is a townland in County Kildare, Ireland, which includes a noted religious archaeological site within its boundary. It was formerly the site of a walled town, and before that of an ecclesiastical settlement dating from the 5th century...
. The site comprises 13 hectares surrounded by a ditch or "henge
Henge
There are three related types of Neolithic earthwork which are all sometimes loosely called henges. The essential characteristic of all three types is that they feature a ring bank and ditch but with the ditch inside the bank rather than outside...
". At 183 metres above sea level, the hilltop holds a commanding view of the entire region, from the Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into Counties Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains...
in the east to the Bog of Allen
Bog of Allen
The Bog of Allen is a large raised bog in the centre of Ireland between the rivers Liffey and Shannon.The bog's 958 square kilometers stretch into County Offaly, County Meath, County Kildare, County Laois, and County Westmeath. Peat is mechanically harvested on a large scale by Bórd na Móna,...
in the west.
Dún Ailinne was a royal site for the Kings of Leinster, analogous to Tara
Hill of Tara
The Hill of Tara , located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Leinster, Ireland...
(Kings of Meath), Emhain Macha (Navan Fort, Kings of Ulster), Cnoc Cruachain (athcroghan]Rathcroghan] Kings of Connacht) and perhaps Cashel
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel , also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, South Tipperary.-History:...
(Kings of Munster). All were hilltop features.
History
Indications of earliest use are from the NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
period, but the main activity there was during the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, when it is believed that Dún Ailinne served as a royal centre and inaugural or ceremonial site for the Kings of Leinster
Kings of Leinster
The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...
. There is no evidence suggesting the site was inhabited in the conventional sense, but instead was mostly used for more short-term activity, including ritual. References to it having been a "palace" of the Kings of Leinster are now considered inaccurate. This makes it analogous to the earlier Neolithic henges rather than the contemporary Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hillforts (Johnston and Wailes 2007). It appears to have been occupied during the Spring/Summer months and the evidence of cooking and eating meat has surfaced during excavation to include large quantities of bones from cows, sheep, pigs, deer and horses (Crabtree 2007, in Johnston and Wailes 2007). In terms of its ritual use, the internal structures and arrangement, and its location and association, is similar to the other Iron Age sites of Tara, Navan, and Rathcroghan (Johnston 2006). While it figures in occasional early historical references, Dún Ailinne was largely abandoned around the time the early Christian settlement at Old Kilcullen
Old Kilcullen
Old Kilcullen, formerly Kilcullen , is a townland in County Kildare, Ireland, which includes a noted religious archaeological site within its boundary. It was formerly the site of a walled town, and before that of an ecclesiastical settlement dating from the 5th century...
was established in the 6th century.
Structures
Excavations during the 1960s and 70s revealed a series of central timber enclosures within the surrounding bank and ditch. Each of three phases of construction was characterized by timber uprights in varied arrangements, most of them based on concentric arrangements of circles. One of these, the Rose phase, had a palisade structure in a figure of eight arrangement, with one large circle and an annex to the south, and an elaborate funnel-shaped entrance. The later Mauve phase had a palisade within which were a timber circle and smaller, closed, circular structure. The final phase was characterized by ceremonial feasting, indicated by a large amount of animal bone (Johnston and Wailes 2007).Nature
The site is surrounded by an earth bank and ditch enclosing an area of some 13 ha. There is some debate about whether it served a defensive function, a symbolic or ritual purpose, or both. There is a deep ditch inside the wall. Remains found on the site include an uncommon La Tène style (Celtic Iron Age) sword and more common RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
bronze fibulae (Johnston and Wailes 2007).
Study
Dún Ailinne was the subject of archaeologicalArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
research between 1968 and 1975 by a team from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
led by Bernard Wailes. More recently, a geophysical survey of the interior was carried out by a joint American and Irish team (Johnston, Campana, and Crabtree 2009). This revealed a large number of new subsurface features whose character is uncertain.