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 on the southwestern edge of the Wicklow Mountains, boasts over 600 suspected houses, making it the largest nucleated settlement ever found in prehistoric Britain and Ireland, a record previously held by settlements of the Viking era.

Dr. Brandherm and his team, including PhD researcher Cherie Edwards and research fellow Dr. Linda Boutoille, recently published their findings after a two-week excavation at the site, which took place between August 23rd and September 4th. Edwards, who spearheaded much of the on-site work, stated the discovery could be a game-changer, potentially shifting the timeline of urban development in Ireland back centuries. "This is like finding a star player we never knew existed," she said, comparing the find to uncovering a hidden talent in a crucial championship game.

The settlement is estimated to have emerged around 1200 BC, during the Late Bronze Age, placing it significantly earlier than the Viking settlements that traditionally get credit for establishing Ireland's first towns. The Brusselstown Ring is part of the Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster, a collection of 13 large hilltop enclosures scattered across the Wicklow Mountains. These enclosures contain structures dating back to the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age, suggesting a long history of human activity in the region.

The discovery is akin to a team finding a previously unknown playbook that completely changes their strategy, according to some historical analysts. For years, the Vikings have been seen as the dominant force in early Irish urban development, similar to a team with a long winning streak. This new evidence, however, suggests that a pre-Viking society may have already been developing complex settlements, challenging the established narrative.

Further research is planned to fully understand the function and social structure of the Brusselstown Ring. Archaeologists are eager to learn more about the daily lives of the people who inhabited this massive settlement and how it compares to later Viking towns. The ongoing investigation promises to be a thrilling contest between established historical theories and emerging evidence, with the potential to reshape our understanding of Ireland's early urban landscape.