Excavations at Rathgall Hillfort

Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 46 with Dr Katharina Becker

In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil is joined by Dr Katharina Becker to dig into the story of Rathgall Hillfort and the groundbreaking excavations by Professor Barry Raftery.

Located in the borderlands of County Wicklow and Carlow, Rathgall is one of the most well known of Ireland’s hillforts. The story of this truly monumental site was uncovered by Professor Barry Raftery over the course of a number of seasons of excavations in the late 1960s and 1970s. The digs revealed evidence of high status metalwork, cremation and burial, and how the site has been a place of significance for millennia. Although Professor Raftery published aspects of the site primarily in the 1970s, he sadly passed away before he could finalise a comprehensive account.

In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, I had the opportunity to dig into the story of Rathgall with Dr Katharina Becker, the co-author of a fantastic new Wordwell publication A Hillfort Through Time. This new book brings together all of Professor Raftery’s work, and maintains his thoughts and ideas about the site, skilfully augmented and recontextualized with contemporary evidence and theory.

As we chat, Katharina discusses the fascinating archaeological discoveries, and what Rathgall can tell us about Bronze Age Ireland, whether we can still call Rathgall a hillfort, and the incredible legacy of the late Professor Barry Raftery.

Amplify Archaeology Podcast is sponsored by Tuatha, this is our online membership with a growing community of like-minded people who love exploring Ireland’s sites, landscapes and heritage. You can find out more and start your own Irish archaeological adventure at tuatha.ie.

AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST

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