emania , ࠤ page  Clashanimud and the Bronze Age Hillforts of Munster William O’Brien University College Cork Abstract his paper presenγs γhe resδlγs of an archaeological excaεaγion condδcγed in –ࠨࠤࠤࠤࠤ aγ 0lashanimδd (0ashel) hillforγ, 0o. 0ork. he siγe is γypical of whaγ Ratery () γermed a 0lass a hillforγ, comprised here of γwo concenγric, widely-spaced enclosδres oεer an area of . ha. 2xcaεaγion reεealed imporγanγ deγails of γhe hillforγ defences, which are radiocarbon daγed γo γhe γwelth cenγδry B0. he siγe hisγory is of parγicδlar inγeresγ, wiγh massiεe wooden palisades deliberaγely desγroyed by ire soon ater consγrδcγion. he 0lashanimδd projecγ is parγ of a new inεesγigaγion of 6rish hillforγs based in Uniεersiγy 0ollege 0ork. his research inclδdes sample excaεaγion and radiocarbon daγing of selecγed 0lass  hillforγs across 6reland. he resδlγs from 0lashanimδd are discδssed in relaγion γo γhree similar hillforγs elsewhere in Mδnsγer. he deliberaγe desγrδcγion of some of γhese sγrongholds ofers a new insighγ inγo γhe regional wars of γhe laγer Bronze Age in 6reland. Hillforts are among the most important monuments of the late prehistoric period in Ireland. here are approximately औओओ sites that might be properly termed hillforts, though that num- ber varies depending on the criteria chosen (Fig. औ). hey were typically built in prominent landscape positions, where areas of औ–औओ ha, or occasionally larger, are variously enclosed by stone walls, earthen banks, and ditches. hey have a wide distribution across Ireland, occurring in isolation or in small clusters, the best known being a group of nine impressive examples in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow. As the name suggests, most are located in elevated positions, generally on the highest point, upper slopes or spurs of a prominent hill or ridge. he majority occur at altitudes of औओओ–खओओm OD, with a small num- ber in higher mountain setings. Most command panoramic views over broad expanses of lowland, from which they are visible across great distances. It is oten argued that this land- scape seting had a strategic relevance, designed to ‘control’ a speciic territory and its resources, as well as signiicant route- ways in the landscape. Whatever the intended or acquired sig- niicance, the visual impact of a hillfort in relation to surround- ing lowland does seem to have been an important considera- tion in its landscape seting. his is particularly true of what Ratery (औजचक9 औजजग) termed the Class क hillfort, the subject of this article. hese consist of two or three (rarely four) concentric circular or oval en- closures, spaced up to औओओm apart, and occasionally farther, along or across the natural contours of a hill or ridge, or on a clif edge. he enclosing elements of these multiple enclosure hillforts can be made up of diferent features, including stone walls, earthen banks and ditches, as well as wooden fencing, used either separately or in combination. he number of re- corded Class क hillforts is small, with कख conirmed or probable examples, and औग possible sites (Fig. औ). hese are mostly found in the southern half of Ireland, with a notable concentration in the north Munster/south Leinster region, where many of the largest examples are found. Hilltop enclosure has a long history in Ireland, with sites of varying types recorded from Neolithic to medieval times. he Class क hillfort has its origins in the Middle Bronze Age, with examples built well into the Late Bronze Age. Results from such well-known examples as Dún Aonghasa (Coter कओऔक), Mooghaun (Grogan कओओघa9 कओओघb), Haughey’s Fort (Mallory औजजघ9 Mallory and Baban कओऔग), and Rathgall (Ratery औजचङ), indicate that Class क hillforts were built at various times in the period औकओओ–जओओ BC. he origins of the tradition remain uncertain, with possible inluences coming from Britain and the Continent where there were parallel developments in the second millennium BC (Harding कओओङ). While some compari- sons can be made with smaller enclosed setlements of the Middle Bronze Age, the Irish hillfort represents an entirely dif- ferent scale of construction and intent. With the exception of Haughey’s Fort, Irish hillforts are oten problematic in respect of construction dates for the de- fences, particularly where these are built in stone. hese issues of chronology and origins are being addressed in a project es- tablished by the author in कओऔऔ, as part of a wider study of war- fare and society in Bronze Age Ireland. his research involves a programme of sample excavation and radiocarbon dating of Class क hillforts, with eight examples investigated in कओऔक–औघ. he results from three of these sites in Munster are presented, preceded by the indings of a major excavation in कओओग–ओङ at Clashanimud, Co. Cork, otherwise known as Cashel hillfort. Cashe3 hi33fort his hillfort is located on the northern side of Clashanimud townland near the small village of Knockavilla, parish of In- nishannon, औग km to the south-west of Cork city (Fig. क). It lies on the southern edge of a prominent anticlinal ridge (औचजm OD) that extends west from Cork Harbour (ITM घघकऔछज, घङऔखजऔ). here are steep-to-moderate slopes on the southern, western and northern sides, and more level terrain on the eastern side. he hillfort overlooks a broad valley to the immediate south, with panoramic views across a wide part of the ridge and valley topography of Mid and West Cork. he earliest record of the hillfort is contained in the irst edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch mapping, surveyed in औछगऔ and published in औछगघ. his map depicts two concentric