Dún Ailinne

The oval feature in the center of the map above is the site of Dún Ailinne, in County Kildare Ireland. The site currently sits on working farmland and ACCESS IS NOT ALLOWED without permission from the owners so as not to bring harm to the animals and to maintain the safety of any potential visitors. This story map will allow you to visit the site virtually and explore what archaeologists have uncovered there.

Documentary sources from the 10 ^th -12 ^th  centuries identify the site of Dún Ailinne as one of 4 prehistoric ceremonial centers that figures prominently in Irish mythology.  These sources link Dún Ailinne to the ancient centers of Tara, Rathcroghan, and Emain Macha—all significant ritual sites associated with ancient Irish kingship as well as parts of sacred landscapes linked to ancient deities.  Although the mythologies surrounding kingship at these sites were likely created and imposed to legitimize contemporary claims, the fact that these sites were used to validate medieval authority speaks to their prehistoric importance and power.

Archaeologically these sites are linked in terms of their size, complexity, and organization.  All four sites are of extraordinarily impressive size defined by a bank with an internal ditch surrounding a hilltop in monumentally-rich landscapes. Excavations at Dún Ailinne, Emain Macha, and Tara have yielded evidence that these sites were long-time centers of human activity dating back to the Neolithic (5000 B.C.E.).  However, their most conspicuous use was during the Iron Age (600 B.C.E.-400 C.E.), when they became large-scale ceremonial centers. It is during this time that a series of large circular timber structures were constructed on the site of Dún Ailinne. While these structures don't survive today, the pits and ditches dug during their construction are studied by archaeologists in order to understand how these structures were built and might have functioned in the past.

From 2006-2008, a joint Irish-American team gained permission from the landowner to undertake magnetometry survey across the entire site. Magnetometry and other geophysical survey methods are particularly valuable at sites like Dún Ailinne where the original structures no longer survive on the surface. During the original construction and use of the site, a number of pits, ditches, and holes were dug and filled. This activity affects the geomagnetic field which archaeologists map using magnetometry sensors. This allows archaeologists to see where potential features might be located and target their excavations more directly.

One of the most interesting finds of the magnetometer survey was the appearance of a dark line encircling the apex of the hill with a narrow gap in the northeast. Excavations in 2016 would confirm that this was indeed a large trench dating to the Iron Age. Similarly structural features are known from sites like Tara and Navan Fort. The gap in the northeast of the structure appears to be an entrance because it lines up with the road and funnel-shaped corridor leading to the main site entrance.

The magnetometry data collected between 2006-2008 not only indicated the presence of an inner enclosure at the site but also a potentially large gap in its northwest portion.

In 2008 magnetometry survey of the a feature known as St. John's Well on the northwestern slope recorded a geophysical anomoly identified within the well itself which indicated there might be archaeological resources associated with the well.

In 2006, prior to the geophysical survey, the Discovery Programme commissioned the collection of LiDAR data over the site.

Although almost none of the features detected in the magnetometry survey are visible in the LiDAR, the data does show evidence for a pathway leading up to and through the entrance to the site.

Since 2016 an archaeological field school has undertaken excavations directed by Dr. Susan Johnston of George Washington University and Dr. Pam Crabtree of New York University. This four-week field season is designed to offer students the opportunity to participate in all aspects of an archaeological excavation. This includes experience with surveying using a total station, excavation of buried features, and processing and preliminary analysis of the recovered data (artifacts, bone remains, radiocarbon samples, etc.). Students are trained in these skills by professional archaeologists from a number of American and Irish universities, in partnership with the Blackfriary Archaeological Field School.

Excavations in 2016 focused on three areas: 1. the inner enclosure entrance, 2. the inner enclosure gap, and 3. St. John's Well. Excavations at the potential entrance confirmed the presence of a trench approximately 1 meter in both depth and width. The presence of both burned fragments of posts and also burned earth (and perhaps burned stone as well) indicates that either the posts were burned in situ or that, possibly, when the ditch was filled the post fragments and the burned earth that had surrounded them were introduced into the fill together. Carbonized wood fragments from this area produced an Iron Age date for the feature.

Excavations also explored whether the noted absence of the inner enclosure on the northwest in the magnetometry image represented a physical gap in the structure or simply an error in data collection. Three test trenches in the area yielded no archaeological material or features.

The last area excavated in 2016 was a square section in the middle of St. John's well. This area showed a strong magnetic signal during the survey but excavation yielded a 20th century broken plowhead and the tires of small truck toy. Nevertheless the excavations did indicate that the area is capable of holding and retaining water.

Since 2018 archaeological investigations have focused on several circular anomalies that lie just north of the interior timber structures. Excavations have yielded several curved ditches as well as a number of post holes and pits within their interior. Since the excavation is ongoing we do not have any definitive answers YET as to what these features might represent or the role they played on site. Additionally, while there have only been a handful of artifacts recovered, excavations have recovered bits of charcoal from the ditches in 2018 and 2021. This charcoal has provided a date that indicates that at least some of these features date to the Iron Age and are contemporary with the other major construction projects on site. 

While it is clear that Dún Ailinne is a large site containing a great deal of archaeological material, what does this material tell us about the people visiting this site during the Iron Age? What would the large timber structures have meant to them and how would they have understood their experience? The lack of surface remains on the hill makes it difficult to understand or even imagine how the site may have functioned in the past. Fortunately, virtual reconstructions, like the one below, can provide a better opportunity to think about and envisage Iron Age life. The next section will take you through some of the key areas at Dún Ailinne asking along the way how Iron Age individuals may have interacted with each place.

While virtual reconstructions can give us some idea of how the site might have looked and encourage questions about how poast peoples' would have experienced it, 3D models can also make the objects found at the site more accessible. The physical artifacts themselves are housed in the storage facility of the National Museum in Dublin and not on display. While 3D models are imperfect in that they cannot capture the tactile or acoustic properties of the object, they can nevertheless provide an engagement point for curiousity and question.

The bead above was found during the 2019 excavations. Its form and decoration indicate that it is a Frankish import from the early medieval period. Similar beads are common in Europe and Britain from the mid-sixth century through the seventh century C.E. The bead allows us to consider that at some point someone who hda connections, either direct or indirect, to the Germanic worlds east and south of Ireland was on the hill during the early medieval period, in the centuries immediately after the dismantling of the Iron Age cermonial enclosures. While we don't know what activities brought the bead to the hilltop, we can at least speculate that the site may not have been entirely off-limits or forgotten.

This tiny carved object, only 1.5 cm long, is likely the broken head of a pin. It is entirely unique in Irish archaeology, but loosely resembles the “ring-headed” pin type known in the Iron Age. The intricate carving and careful polish suggest that it was a decorative pin, possibly for use in fastening clothing. However, the shaft is extremely thin, indicating that its intended use was probably more aesthetic than functional. It is unknown which species the bone came from, although other objects found at the site were made of horse, cow, and possibly pig bones. Debris from bone carving suggests that this pin and other bone objects could have been produced at Dún Ailinne alongside metal and glass objects.

As an archaeological team, we are incredibly lucky to work in a community that looks after the archaeological finds that comprise their heritage and values the practice of archaeology and those of us who participate in it. The Thompson family looks after and monitors the site that sits on their farm. It is both their diligence and goodwill that preserves the site for the future. Additionally, many of the families in and around Kilcullen have opened up their homes and donated their time, talents, and labor to the excavations each summer. It is their involvement that sustains our excavations and who maintain the histories and stories that provide the site meaning day in and day out.

The site has a long history of community-led heritage practice. During the 1968-1975 excavation up to 25 locals were hired or volunteered at the excavation each year. The annual fieldwork established a strong rapport between researchers and community members. The excavation monograph even highlights the generosity of the people of Kilcullen, thanking them for “every courtesy and much help”, including the use of the local pub, “the Hideout”, as an ad hoc office and, during the winter months, for equipment storage.

When investigations resumed at the site in 2006, local residents, many of whom had childhood memories associated with the site, worked to preserve and commemorate it. Through a grant from the Rural Development Programme, Kilcullen Community Action developed plans for a heritage park just outside the town. The park includes a scaled topographic reconstruction of the site, bilingual (Irish and English) didactic panels, and a sculpture created by local artist, Noel Scullion. The sculpture is based on a spear head found at the site, and also includes etchings of the site plan and key artifacts. The statue also has several markings that indicate the sun’s location for the Spring and Autumn Equinox, two calendar days some have argued would have been celebrated at the site in the past.

To celebrate the opening of the interpretative park in 2008 the local heritage council put together a program that included a site tour led by Dr. Bernard Wailes, formal conversations with Dr. Wailes and community members, lectures, and the debut of a musical piece specially written by Liam O’Flynn and commissioned by Kilcullen Community Action entitled “Dún Ailinne and the Clann March.”

Although the students come to Dún Ailinne to learn about archaeological methods, they enter in to a rich and vibrant community. This community, which consists of students, locals, academics, professionals, and enthusiasts, is not grounded in a place, but generated by their shared experiences moving through the landscape week to week, building memories and sharing stories. The map below allows you to explore this community and the stories they share.

Whether you're a former student or a local resident, if you'd like to submit your own memories about the site please get in touch. It would be great to collect and share them here!

For more information on the field school please check the following links. You can also contact Dr. Susan Johnston ( sjohnsto[at]email[dot]gwu[dot]edu  if you are interested in becoming involved either as a student or as a host family.

Johnston, S. and Wailes, B. 2007. Dún Ailinne: Excavations at an Irish Royal Site 1968-1975. University Museum Publications. Philadelphia.

Johnston, S.A., Campana, D., & Crabtree, P. 2009. A Geophysical Survey at Dún Ailinne, COunty Kildare, Ireland. Journal of Field Archaeology 34(4): 385-402.

Johnston, S.A., Crabtree, P.J., & Campana, D.V. 2014. Performance, place and power at Dún Ailinne, a ceremonial site of the Irish Iron Age. World Archaeology 46(2): 206-223.

Johnston, S. 2017. Dún Ailinne: Then and Now. In P.J. Crabtree & P. Bogucki (eds.), European Archaeology as Anthropology: Essays in Memory of Bernard Wailes. University of Pennsylvania Press: Philadelphia.

Garrett, Z.S. 2020. The Venerable Bead. Archaeology Ireland 3(2): 50-52.

 The Kilcullen Diary by Brian Byrne 

 Clearing the Mists of Time: Archaeology at the Irish Royal Site of Dún Ailinne -- aired April 2016 

 Unlocking the Secrets of Dún Ailinne -- aired October 2020