Rathnagree — Tuckmill Hill,tuckmill Upper

Subcircular trivallate hilltop enclosure on a slight knoll on the lower NW spur of Baltinglass Hill with steep slopes to the W (overlooking the River Slaney) and gentler slopes to the N and E. The site is overlooked by 'Rathcoran' hillfort (WI027-026001-) c. 500m to the SE. The inner area (dims. c. 100m NW-SE; c. 75m NE-SW) is defined by an irregular stone bank, best preserved at the NE (Wth c. 4m), set along the perimeter of a largely natural scarp (H 0.5m). No indication of an entrance, external fosse or internal features. The middle rampart, composed of earth and stone (Wth c. 7m; H 1.7-2.5m) defines an area 170m NW-SE and 150m NE-SW and has an external fosse (Wth 3.5-5m; D 1m) and an outer bank (Wth 2m; H 1m), with a possible entrance (Wth 2m) at the N. The outermost rampart (Wth 6-7m; max. H 1m) (not shown on the 1907 OS 6-inch map) is also composed of earth and stone and is identifiable within the forestry on the E side and as a cropmark on the NW and S-SE sides (overall dims. c. 250m NW-SE; c. 250m NE-SW). Excavation by O'Brien in 2014. Late Bronze Age coarse ware pottery was obtained from the ditch fill of the middle enclosing element. (CUCAP APA045, AHK055) (Price 1949, 143; OPW files) The hillfort was recently described in the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland as following; 'Multiple enclosure positioned on a northern spur of Tuckmill Hill, 400m NNW of Rathcoran hillfort. Rathnagree is one of nine hillforts comprising the Baltinglass hillfort cluster. The name Rathnagree translates as Çrath of the king. It has a total site footprint of 5.8ha and comprises three widely spaced enclosing elements. The enclosing elements do not follow the contours of the hill. The ramparts disregard topographical variation to form three circular enclosures. There are two possible original entrances in the middle enclosing elements at the NNE and N. These comprise simple gaps in the enclosing elements. No evidence for any internal features on the surface. Ramparts survive best at N, NE and NW. Commercial woodland encroaches on the enclosing elements at the N and NE. Geophysical survey suggests that the low rise stone banks of the inner and outer enclosing elements formed the footings for timber palisades (O'Driscoll 2012). This has recently been confirmed by excavation. First map depiction in 1842 in first edition Ordnance Survey mapping. Survey by Condit in 1992 and 1998. Survey by Grogan and Kilfeather (1997, 41). Geophysical survey by O'Driscoll in 2012. LiDAR survey commissioned by department of archaeology University College Cork. Excavation by O'Brien in 2014. Late Bronze Age coarse ware pottery was obtained from the ditch fill of the middle enclosing element. The E section of the middle enclosing elements form the boundary between the townlands of Tuckmill Upper and Tuckmill Hill. Recent excavation recovered Late Bronze Age coarse ware pottery from the ditch of the middle enclosing elements. There are two possible original entrances in the middle enclosing elements at the NNE and N. These comprise simple gaps in the enclosing elements with causeways over the ditch. The terminals of the E example may be stone faced. Circular area defined by three enclosing elements. The inner and middle features are separated by approximately 37m. The middle and outer examples are 35m apart. The enclosing elements do not have a uniform composition. The middle enclosure is the most impressive of the three. It comprises a well preserved inner bank, outer ditch and counterscarp bank best preserved to the south. The bank and counterscarp are composed mainly of earth. The height of the bank ranges from 2.4m _ 0.5m and is on average 7m wide. The ditch ranges from 2.9m _ 1.3m in depth from the top of the inner bank to bottom of the ditch and is on average 7m wide. The counterscarp ranges from 0.4m _ 0.9m in height and is on average 3m wide. There is no evidence for stone revetment, although recent excavation suggests that this may have originally been present. A large number of small breaks occur throughout the perimeter, although these are most likely modern. Recent excavation suggests that the earthen bank and ditch was constructed over a palisaded enclosure which may have been similar to the inner and outer enclosing elements. The inner rampart comprises a low-rise rubble stone bank with no corresponding ditch. The bank is on average 0.2m in height and 6m wide. Geophysical survey has suggested that the inner and outer enclosing elements were used as the footings for large timber palisades (O'Driscoll 2012). This has been confirmed by excavation (O'Brien 2014).' (http://hillforts.arch.ox.ac.uk/records/IR0725.html) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 7 February 2020