Archaeology Notes

Event ID 663908

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/663908

NH86NW 1 8070 6898

(NH 8070 6898) Dunskeath Castle (NR). (Site of) Moat (NR).

OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 2nd ed., (1907)

Dunskeath Castle was a mote-castle fortified by King William the Lion in 1179. Hugh Miller (1835), in the early 19th century, says, "We can still trace the moat of the citadel, and part of an outwork which rises towards the hill, but the walls have sunk into low grassy mounds, and the line of the outer mote has long since been effaced by the plough". In recent years the almost levelled mound and shallow depression of the ditch were still discernible, but the site is now subjected to military occupation (Mackenzie 1950).

Visible on RAF air photographs CPE/Scot/UK/223, 4140-1: flown 27 June 1947.

H Miller 1835; W M Mackenzie 1950.

Promontary at North Sutor defended by a ditch. A WWII bunker is sited on the seaward end and has been destroyed to a pile of concrete and metal rods. no bricks here. No other features and only slight cliff erosion. Possible partial outer ditch to N and NE. Inner ditch c.7m wide and 2-3m deep. Outer ditch c.6m wide and 1m deep.

CFA/MORA Coastal Assessment Survey 1998.

The surviving remains consist of two concentric semi-circular ditches with inner ramparts, terminating at each end in the S on steep naturally defensive slopes.

The outer ditch, c.7.0m wide and 1.5m deep, is truncated in the W by ploughing but its track is visible on RAF air photographs. Its rampart has been mutilated by quarrying and only about 16.0m (9.0m wide and 1.5m high) survives in good condition. The whole of the inner ditch, c. 9.0m wide and 2.0m deep, is fairly well preserved, but its inner rampart is considerably reduced, probably by erosion. No entrance is evident through the defences, though one was visible in 1794 (OSA 1794). The irregularly-shaped enclosed area, (a natural spur) is partly occupied by a concrete gun emplacement, which has mutilated the interior (see NH86NW 10).

The earthwork remains cannot be classififed as a motte but are undoubtedly the remains of a defensive medieval ring work of some strength.

Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 24 August 1972.

OSA 1794.