Haughey’s Fort: a major complex of power, production and ritual in Late Bronze Age Europe

Abstract

Before Navan Fort became the mythological capital of the Irish province of Ulster, construction of the monumental Haughey’s Fort around 1200 BC marked the foundation of an important prehistoric centre. Here, the authors report on research integrating remote sensing, excavation and archival reassessment in the exploration of this Bronze Age landscape. Indicators of long-distance exchange and craft production of high-status artefacts, together with the presence of 204 possible structures and a ceremonial avenue leading towards a unique ritual pool, help elucidate the site’s social, economic and ritual importance, while identification of a 109ha enclosure underlines the exceptional scale of activities.