Archaeological Evaluation

Date August 2022 - September 2022

Event ID 1161652

Category Recording

Type Archaeological Evaluation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1161652

NT 282 731 A programme of excavation was undertaken at Dunsapie Fort, Holyrood Park, during August and September 2022, as a university training exercise on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland and University of Edinburgh. The project aimed to evaluate the extent, character and vulnerability of the archaeological resource at Dunsapie Fort.

Five trenches were excavated, three investigating the enclosure on the upper terraces of the fort and two investigating the scooped settlement and underlying annexe rampart to the E of the fort.

The summit trenches demonstrated the variable survival of the remains of the hillfort, with well-preserved deposits and structures surviving in hollows on the summit, much of this area of the fort has however been heavily impacted and truncated. Despite the variable survival significant features were recorded on the summit plateau of the hillfort with sections recorded through the ramparts and two structures internal to the ramparts investigated.

The two trenches investigating the scooped settlement were not fully excavated in this phase of the project and will be returned to in subsequent years.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: University of Edinburgh and Historic Environment Scotland

Jamie Humble – AOC Archaeology Group