Programmearchaeologists Isabel Bennett and Eoin Grogan began excavations at Mooghaun. The Discovery Programme is a state funded program which is dedicated to understanding Irish history and heritage with a strong emphasis on the late prehistory of Ireland.

The purpose of the North Munster project was to "to access the nature and range of settlement, economic, social and ritual patterning in a regional framework and in this way to achieve a detailed view of the processes and changes involved within later prehistory"(Grogan 2002). The sites in this area show a high amount of wealth and complexity during the late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The study hoped to better understand the emergence of regional centers in the area and the transitory period between the Bronze and Iron Age. During the 1992 season, areas along the southwest area of the outer wall, inside of

Excavations at Mooghaun have revealed some evidence of occupation yet none is contemporary with the ramparts. Although evidence of occupation exists in the layer beneath the ramparts, there was no lapse in time between the abandonment of the occupation and the construction of the hillfort. The remains of three huts were found Southwest of the middle enclosure after tree clearing and a fourth was identified to the West of the middle wall (Grogan 1996). Further evidence for previous occupation was found under

the ramparts in a "black sticky deposit" which contained ceramics and a large quantity of unburned animal bone (Grogan 1996). In general, the site has produced ceramic remains and animal bones. The ceramic style is similar to those found at nearby Bronze Age sites including Knocknalappa which is 4 km South of Mooghaun and one bronze artifact has been found which indicates a Late Bronze Age use of the site. The aforementioned radio carbon date of 1260-930 B.C. was found underneath the outer wall which means that the wall was actually built sometime afterwards. Of the four later houses identified, only two of them have been excavated. They are encircled by a rubble filled stone wall of around 1m in thickness and have a diameter of about 4 m (Grogan 1996). The roofs of both would have been held up by a post in the middle. House 1 contained chert, animal bone and fire cracked rock. House 3 contained more animal bone, chert and a blue glass bead. Excavators also found that the site House 3 was built upon had been prepared by a leveling of the bedrock beneath the house (Grogan 1996).

Mooghaun in Context

The lack of evidence for settlement at the site contemporary with the ramparts leads archaeologists to believe that the sites may not have functioned primarily as habitation areas. However, there is considerable evidence that these sites were meant to be used for defensive purposes. The thickness and scale of the walls as well as the overall integration of natural land features that adds to the defensive capabilities of the walls, give credence to the belief that Mooghaun and Irish hillforts were used in a defensive capacity.

Mooghaun would have required a considerable amount of labor and time to create, however it may not have been used for defensive purposes exclusively, or even at all. Instead many archaeologists, including the excavators of Mooghaun, feel that it played a more extensive role in the ritual or communal life of the inhabitants of this period (Waddell 1998). This interpretation is also encouraged by the lack of settlement at the site. Why defend a site so extensively that little or no people live upon? Perhaps, as many authors have suggested the residents were of an elite status. Although large, Mooghaun is relatively similar to other hillforts in Ireland. Mooghan's lack of habitation evidence is similar to the patterns of evidence found in hillforts in Ireland. The typical pattern of hillfort habitation seems to be an enclosed farmstead inside of the inner ramparts. Yet, even this is rare. For example, only 16 percent of hillforts in Louth are known to have possible hut remains (Limbert 1996). Since these enclosures are found all over Ireland building materials are based on local available materials. It is also interesting to note that while 200 hillforts are known to have been excavated, only 5% of these have been examined completely and only 2% of the known hillforts have been excavated (Limbert 1996).

According to the Discovery Programme research the sphere of influence of Mooghaun increased during the Late Bronze Age and it became a regional center surrounded by associated sites up to about 176km^2 (Grogan 2002). They also feel that the organization of hill forts suggest a settlement pattern that represents a regional scale of settlement organization (Grogan 1996). Even though differences exist between these hillforts and smaller sites, Grogan feels that there may have existed a regional character or system and a local diversity. The Discovery researchers believe that a four-tiered system of hierarchy exists in the area around Mooghaun at this time. The four tiers are described as "substantial sub-regional centers represented by the larger hillforts, lesser local foci in the form of smaller hillforts," followed by "smaller hilltop enclosures [and] enclosed habitations" (Grogan 2002). The hill forts may then have served as ritual centers linking these outlying areas in someway. Their massive construction and seemingly small number of inhabitants implies that people from the surrounding area must have had an incentive to help in the construction of these forts. The excavations of Mooghaun may also have missed the areas of occupation at the site. However no evidence of habitation is normal for hillforts of this period. Whatever its function, it seems apparent that Mooghan was a site of great regional importance.

Bibliographical Information

Bennett, I. (ed) (1995) Archaeological Excavations in Ireland: Excavations in 1994. Dublin: Wordwell Ltd.

Grogan, E and I. Bennett. (1993) Excavations at Mooghan South, County Clare: A Preliminary Report of the 1992 Season. Discovery Programme Reports 1: Project Results and Reports 1994. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, pp 39-43.

Grogan, E. (1996) Excavations at Mooghan South, 1994. Discovery Programme Reports 4: Project Results and Reports 1994. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, pp 47-57.

Grogan, E. (1996) North Munster Project. Discovery Programme Reports 4: Project Results and Reports 1994. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, pp 26-46.

Grogan, E. (2002) The Discovery Programme Current Projects: The North Munster Research Project. 9, October 2002. <http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/Research_Area/Research_Current.htm>

Limbert, D. (1996) Irish Ringforts: A Review of Their Origins. The Archaeological Journal: The Royal Archaeological Institute, v. 153: 243 - 289.

Shaw, R. (2002) The Discovery Programme: Application of Survey Techniques. 9, October 2002. <http://www.discoveryprogramme.ie/Technology_Area/Content/Applications/Case_Study.htm>

Waddell, J. (1998) The Prehistoric Archaeology of Ireland. Galway: Galway University Press.