Archaeology Notes

Event ID 656686

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/656686

NF85NE 7 8698 5693.

(NF 8697 5693) Dun Ban (NR)

OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1904)

Dun Ban stands on a rocky islet at the east end of Loch Horneray, Grimsay, and was excavated by Thomas (F W L Thomas 1890), who found that it consisted of four beehive cells within the wall of a circular tower. The wall is 10 to 14ft thick except for about 9ft which is only about 2ft thick. The entrance, opposite the curved causeway, led to a curved recess, apparently a guard cell. Thomas estimated that the wall was originally 15ft high, with a parapet above. Signs of fire were noted in two places and broken craggans were recovered, but no datable relics were found.

The dun was overlooked by a little eminence, 50 or 60ft high, on the lake shore 35 yards away.

F W L Thomas 1890.

Dun Ban is generally as described and planned above, but it is now obscured by dense undergrowth. The walls survive to a maximum height of 2.0m internally. The submerged causeway is still visible.

Surveyed at 1:10,560.

Visited by OS (N K B) 30 May 1965.