Archaeology Notes

Event ID 655485

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/655485

ND37NW 1 3105 7515

(ND 3105 7515) Fort (NR)

OS 1:10,000 map (1976).

Fort, St John's Point: Across the landward end of the promontory of St John's Point, from cliff to cliff, has been dug a deep trench some 50ft in breadth, with a rampart some 10ft in height along the seaward side and a low mound crowning the counterscarp to landward. The rampart has probably borne a wall along its crest on the line of the present modern dyke, as a small portion of an ancient wall is visible beneath the latter near the W end of the defence. Some 50ft from the W extremity of the rampart there appears to have been an entrance. The area is some 10 acres in extent. Within it, and in the vicinity of the supposed site of the chapel (ND37SW 2) is elevated ground which is possibly an artificial mound.

Comparisons with similar works suggest an Iron Age date - even though possibly re-used by Viking or later medieval overlords (RCAHMS 1911).

RCAHMS 1911; R W Feachem 1963.

Dunmey is an alternative name for the promontory (and may have some relevance to the fort). The site is generally as described by the previous field investigator.

Orig Paroch Scot 1855.

A fort consisting of a mutilated earth-and-stone rampart built between two geos and cutting off the fairly level promontory of St John's Point. The rampart varies between 12.0m in width and 3.0m high in the E, and 15.0m in width and 3.0m high in the W. There is no trace of a wall surmounting it as suggested by the RCAHMS. A gap towards the W end marks the entrance. About 10m outside the rampart is a denuded turf dyke spread to 3.5m, suggested by the RCAHMS to be an outer rampart, but this is partly if not wholly modern and contemporary with several acres of rig and furrow cultivation outside the fort. There is no definite evidence of a ditch. The area between the rampart and the turf dyke appears slightly hollowed, but this is partly caused by a drainage ditch which occupies it, and is partly a false impression gained by the position of the turf dyke. It is actually at the same level as the field to the S.

Within the fort, the promontory has been almost completely enclosed by a turf dyke, now spread to 2.5m and in places tumbled away over the cliffs. On the edge of the cliff in the E, about 100m NE of the E end of the fort rampart, this dyke stops short of a sub-rectangular grassy platform, some 9.0m NE-SW by 5.0m transversely, which appears to be the site of a building, although no structural details are visible. The dyke encloses rig and furrow cultivation, which is less well defined than that outside the fort.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (R D) 26 February 1965 and (A A) 20 April 1972.

A broad cliff promontory cut off by a massive rampart about 3m high, fronted by a U-sectioned ditch about 15m wide. The entrance may be represented by a gap towards the W end but this is not certain. A modern drystone dyke runs along the top of the rampart. No structures are visible within the rampart but against its rear is a well-constructed, rectangular building, locally said to be a chapel (ND37SW 2).

R G Lamb 1980.

An earthwork 10 acres in extent defined by a trench 16.5m wide and a rampart about 3m high. There is no evidence of occupation contemporary with the rampart, but there are traces of later occupation.

C E Batey 1982.

The report correctly states 'no definite evidence of a ditch' but the impression is that there has been a ditch.

Visited by OS (J M), 6 July 1982.