- Landblocks
The first phase of work consisted of assembling and collating the relevant data from various sources. A preliminary analysis of the distribution patterns of the artefacts was also carried out as that evidence might assist in the location of unknown settlement foci. Three areas, called landblocks, were selected, each comprising c. 400km2. These enabled the integrated study and interpretation of associated themes such as material, social, economic and ritual development. The individual landblocks are: south-east Clare in the area around the hillfort at Mooghaun; the Lough Gur area in east county Limerick (comprising three integrated landblocks totalling c. 1000km2) and around the Ballylin hillfort in west Limerick.
Much of the work has concentrated in the Mooghaun landblock mainly because of the extensive range of monuments in the area and also the impressive concentration of Late Bronze Age finds. More specifically the area was chosen to permit the investigation of the wider context of the Mooghaun hillfort and the gold ornament hoard found nearby. The research involved looking in detail at individual archaeological sites, analysing how they fit into the landscape as well as an intensive study of the late prehistoric artefacts .