Archaeology Notes

Event ID 693757

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/693757

NR39SE 3 3822 9439

(NR 3820 9437) Dun Eibhne (NR)

OS 6" map (1900)

The well-preserved remains of a possibly multi- vallate fort which occupies a high debris-strewn hill rising from boggy land. The ruined, but strongly-built inner wall surrounds the flat top of the hill, on which are traces of huts, and has a narrow entrance in the NE now somewhat altered and robbed.

The other walls of the fort (not shown on plan) lie below the crest of the hill and have been heavily robbed for the building of a probably medieval settlement at the foot of the hill. A rectangular depression in the lee of the SW wall of the interior may also be medieval and this may be the explanation for a reference to "the Lord of of Dunevin in Colonsay" on an early 16th century tombstone on Iona.

The name is given as Dun Evan by Grieve, but as Dun Eibhinn (with or without the accent) by the other authorities, Loder explaining it as "The Fort of Eyvind", a Norse personal name.

Name Book 1878; S Grieve 1923; J de V Loder 1935; S Piggott and C M Piggott 1948.

NR 3822 9440: Dun Eibhinn - a dun measuring 20.0m NE- SW by 18.0m within the grass-covered tumbled remains of a wall which, although having no surviving inner facing stones, must have been as much as 4.0m thick from the evidence of the outer face which is traceable throughout. Three rectangular buildings are visible in the interior and appear to have been built on top of collapsed wall material. The entrance to the dun was clearly in the NE where there is a 2.0m wide gap in the wall and several long stones which may have been associated with a doorway. The later occupation was apparently approached by way of a terrace and entrance on the SE. The suggested outer walls of the dun, around two small terraces well down the slope on the SE side, seem to be later enclosure banks similar to others that occur in the vicinity.

There is much evidence later habitation at the foot of the hill where there are overgrown building foundations and field dykes but these cannot be certainly described as medieval.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (BS), 9 April 1974.