Archaeology Notes

Event ID 657309

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/657309

NG24NW 5 2055 4947.

(NG 20554947) Dun Colbost (NR)

OS 6" map, 1904

Dun Colbost, a broch measuring 52' E-W by 57' N-S externally, with well" built walling varying from 11-12ft. in width. No entrance is visible, but it was probably on the W. where the wall has been destroyed. One chamber and a short length of gallery can be traced.

An outwork surrounds the rocky plateau upon which the broch stands, consisting of a wall about 6' thick surviving to a height of 3' in places.

RCAHMS 1928; A Graham 1949.

Dun Colbost, a broch, as decribed by RCAHMS; poor condition.

Visited by OS (ASP) 10 May 1961.

Dun Colbost broch is sited on the east end of a rocky knoll in moorland above Loch Dunvegan. The broch is surrounded by an outer wall, which cuts across the knoll, leaving the western half of the plateau unenclosed. The enclosing wall is broadest in front of the broch entrance which faces west.

Exploratory excavations were carried out to assess the potential of the site for investigation of settlement around the broch.

Three areas were opened:-

Area 1 crossed from the broch entrance to the exterior of the surrounding wall. The broch entrance was exposed, with the outer lintel still in place. On excavation, the surrounding wall proved to be more massive than was first thought and possibly had a revetted outer face. The loose rubble was cleared from the area between the broch entrance and the outer wall, exposing the outlines of potential structures in the remaining tumble.

Area 2 was at the opposite end of the knoll to the broch. Removal of the peat revealed that the bedrock had been levelled with stone cobbling. An arc and a line of boulders of unknown function were uncovered, along with traces of burning.

Area 3, below the knoll to the south of the broch, was examined to establish whether 'structures' identified during fieldwalking were the result of random tumble from the broch. Two wall lines were exposed in the excavation area.

Sponsors: Russell Trust, Redland Aggregates Ltd, Nicolson Construction and Boreals Products.

A MacSween and D Reed 1989.

The second season of excavation concentrated on the area between the broch entrance and its surrounding wall. A platform of earth and stones abutted the broch wall on the south side of the entrance. The interior face of the surrounding wall curved parallel to the platform, forming a narrow 'channel' to the broch entrance.

Sponsors: Russell Trust, Redland Aggregates Ltd, Chevron Oil.

A MacSween and D Reed 1990.

Excavations continued at Dun Colbost broch in autumn 1993. The main trench was extended to further examine the wall surrounding the broch. Excavation of the area between the broch entrance and the surrounding wall revealed stone paving, covered drains and a hearth. Coarse pottery and worked stone were recovered.

Sponsor: Russell Trust.

A MacSween and D Reed 1994.

NG 2065 4949 - Pole 143. NG 2061 4953 - Pole 144. NG 2056 4958 - Pole 145. An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the installation of three replacement wooden poles and a stay for one of them towards the NW end of the isle of Skye. The existing poles were located very close to Dun Colbost Broch. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered in any of the trenches and no artefacts retrieved from them.

Robin Murdoch (Scotia Archaeology), 2007.