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, dwarfing even the most ambitious Viking construction projects.

Dr. Brandherm, along with PhD researcher Cherie Edwards and research fellow Dr. Linda Boutoille, recently completed an excavation at the site, publishing their findings and sending shockwaves through the archaeological community. "This discovery is a game-changer," Edwards stated. "It challenges the long-held belief that the Vikings were the first to establish urban centers in Ireland."

The settlement is estimated to have emerged around 1200 BC, during the Late Bronze Age, placing it centuries before the arrival of the Viking raiders. This is akin to a rookie quarterback, coming off the bench, throwing for six touchdowns in his first start, completely overshadowing the veteran's legacy. The Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster itself contains 13 large hilltop enclosures, with structures dating back to the Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age, suggesting a long and rich history of habitation in the region.

The implications of this find are significant. For years, the Vikings have been credited with revolutionizing Irish society through their establishment of trading towns like Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford. However, the Brusselstown Ring suggests that a complex, organized society existed in Ireland long before the Viking Age. "We're talking about a settlement that predates the Vikings by over two millennia," Brandherm explained. "This forces us to reconsider our understanding of social organization and settlement patterns in prehistoric Ireland."

While the Vikings may still hold the record for the fastest longboats, the Brusselstown Ring discovery suggests that the Irish were already building impressive settlements long before the Norsemen arrived on the scene. Further research is planned to fully understand the extent and nature of the settlement, potentially revealing even more about this fascinating period in Irish history. The archaeological team is currently analyzing artifacts recovered from the site, hoping to gain further insights into the lives of the people who inhabited the Brusselstown Ring. The next phase of research will involve further geophysical surveys and targeted excavations, aiming to paint a more complete picture of this prehistoric urban center.