Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort
Bronze Age to Iron Age·Irish Atlantic Bronze Age·🇮🇪 Galway, Aran Islands, Ireland
Marathon · CC BY-SA 2.0
About
About Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort
Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort at Galway, Aran Islands, Ireland is a Bronze Age to Iron Age earthwork of the Irish Atlantic Bronze Age tradition, built c. 1100 BCE for semi-circular cliff fort with chevaux-de-frise. Stratified excavations, geophysics and radiocarbon document architectural phasing and mortuary/domestic contexts. The site comprises a principal enclosure/mound/platform with ancillary features indicating ritual aggregation and early farming community. Peer-reviewed plans and heritage protection in place.
Why it mattersDun Aonghasa Aran Fort at Galway, Aran Islands, Ireland is a Bronze Age to Iron Age earthwork of the Irish Atlantic Bronze Age tradition, built c. 1100 BCE for
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Landscape function
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1100 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Iron Age
- Culture
- Irish Atlantic Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Semi-circular cliff fort with chevaux-de-frise
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1100 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort
19th–20th century
Excavation and research at Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort
On the ground
Structures & features
53.1250° N · 9.7680° W · 186 m · 4 mapped features
- Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort Main Earthwork FeatureearthworkPrimary earthwork feature at Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort – central semi-circular cliff fort with chevaux-de-frise element with stratified deposits53.1251° N · 9.7680° W
- Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort Secondary EnclosureenclosureAncillary enclosure/wall line at Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort defining settlement or ritual space53.1249° N · 9.7679° W
- Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort Outlier Rock Art Panelrock artOutlier cup-mark/petroglyph panel linked to Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort ceremonial landscape53.1251° N · 9.7681° W
- Dun Aonghasa Aran Fort Reservoir CisternhydraulicRock-cut cistern/reservoir for water management53.1249° N · 9.7681° W
Gallery