A newly discovered hilltop settlement in County Wicklow could rewrite the history books, potentially dethroning the Vikings as the first town builders in Ireland, according to researcher Dr. Dirk Brandherm. The Brusselstown Ring, located in the Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster on the southwestern edge of the Wicklow Mountains, boasts over 600 suspected houses, making it the largest nucleated settlement ever unearthed in prehistoric Britain and Ireland, a record previously held by settlements of a later era.

Dr. Brandherm, along with PhD researcher Cherie Edwards and research fellow Dr. Linda Boutoille, recently completed an excavation at the site between August 23rd and September 4th, revealing details that challenge established historical timelines. The settlement is believed to have emerged around 1200 BC, during the Late Bronze Age, predating Viking settlements by centuries, a historical upset akin to a minor league team unexpectedly defeating a World Series champion.

"This discovery is a game-changer," Dr. Brandherm stated. "It forces us to reconsider the conventional narrative that the Vikings were the pioneers of urban development in Ireland. We're talking about a settlement that existed over two thousand years before the Viking arrival."

The Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster itself is a historical powerhouse, featuring 13 large hilltop enclosures with structures dating back to the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age. Edwards, whose PhD research focuses on the area, described the site as "an archaeological goldmine," adding, "The potential for further discoveries within the cluster is immense."

While the Vikings have long been credited with establishing Ireland's first towns, such as Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford, this new evidence suggests that organized settlements existed much earlier. This is similar to discovering a previously unknown quarterback who shattered passing records before the modern era of football.

The findings, recently published, are expected to spark further research and debate among historians and archaeologists. Future investigations will focus on dating the structures within the Brusselstown Ring more precisely and understanding the social and economic organization of its inhabitants. The team hopes to uncover more artifacts that will shed light on the daily lives of the people who called this hilltop settlement home, potentially rewriting the playbook on early Irish history.