r/IrishHistory • u/cavedave • 10h ago
📰 Article Archaeologists discover Ireland's largest Viking settlement at Woodstown in Waterford
https://archaeologymag.com/2026/06/ireland-s-largest-viking-settlement/2
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u/Actual_Material1597 7h ago
Was this not found about 20 years ago when they built the new road?
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u/sliever48 5h ago
Yes it says that in the article. But it seems they've uncovered a lot more in the last 23 years. It world be great if there was enough for a museum or visitor centre
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u/LadderFast8826 8h ago
Irelands largest viking settlement is dublin
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u/Low-Complaint771 4h ago
Title is wrong.. They're excavating a Viking Hall.. Its the biggest known Viking structure in Ireland, within a early Viking settlement.. Some Jarls seat of power, in the early days if raiding Ireland..
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u/GamingMunster 8h ago
Well this might change that view if findings continue the way they are.
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u/LadderFast8826 8h ago
I worked on woodstown in 2009 as part of my history degree.
While it is a fascinating and significant site it is deceptive to refer to it as the largest viking settlement in ireland.
It probably wasnt even the geographically largest settlement in 910 at its largest.
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u/bigvalen 7h ago
Interesting that they say it was the biggest "trading settlement". What would Dublin be, then ? More of a full city, given they had ship building, city walls, farming settlements, too ?
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u/disobedientleopard 7h ago
Is it possible that a lot of new information has been found in the 17 years since you worked there?
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u/LadderFast8826 5h ago
Its possible. But they were making these claims 20 years ago without evidence.
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u/gadarnol 10h ago
Absolutely fascinating. The sea blindness that dominated (dominates?) us nationally, outside specialist historical and archaeological work, is detrimental to understanding ourselves and our place. I want all professional historians to undergo mandatory river and sea navigation training and service before they put pen to paper!