Strong turnout hears update on Dun Ailinne
Despite threatening thundershowers — some of which could be seen from the hill pouring rain over Kilcullen — there was a strong turnout for this afternoon’s Open Day on Dun Ailinne, writes Brian Byrne.
Hosted on the site by archaeologists Dr Susan Johnston and Dr Suzanne Garrett, courtesy of the Thompson family owners of the land, also on hand were eight students of archaeology who have been experiencing the vagaries of Irish weather over the last three weeks, to help explain the intricacies of the current excavations.
Dr Johnston led two tours of the site during the afternoon, explaining the context of the latest round of investigations against the background of the original excavations by the late Professor Bernard Wailes begun in the late 1960s, and the current explorations initiated by her in 2006.
Dr Johnston is based in the Department of Anthropology at George Washington University and since 2016 she has led teams of American archaeology students, who gain practical field experience on the site as well gaining an introduction to archaeology of Europe. Professor Pam Crabtree of New York University, who worked on the original excavations undertaken by Bernard Wailes, has also been a key part of the current Dun Ailinne investigations.
The 2024 student cohort includes five from Dr Johnston’s university, one each from the University of Gettysburg and New York University, and an Irish student. Their participation is facilitated by the Black Friary Archaeological School in Co Meath.
Those who came on site today heard that the work this year has continued to yield more knowledge on the complex set of structure which have been gradually revealed over the years. What could have been dry historical information was imparted with the humour that likely makes Dr Johnston’s lectures in George Washington University both entertaining and unmissable.
She noted that while there were similarities in the form of the structures on Dun Ailinne with those on other Irish ‘Royal’ sites, they seem to be unique to Ireland, with no equivalents either in Britain or in continental Europe. She said the excavations have shown evidence of circular structures built outside each other at successive times. Carbon-dating which is currently being prepared for publication suggests the period of activity at Dun Ailinne could be around 300 years.
Dun Ailinne is the largest pre-Norman earthen enclosure in Ireland, covering some 44 acres. The ditch or 'henge' which circumscribes it is the best preserved and largest such feature in Ireland.
A €5 donation per person from the Open Day is being given to the Jack and Jill Foundation.
NOTE: The Dun Ailinne site is on private land and a working farm, and is not open to the public. Permission for any visit to it must be obtained from the Thompson family, who have kindly facilitated the investigations to date.
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