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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 674355
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/674355
NM61SE 3 6805 1266.
(NM 6815 1270) Dun Chonnuill (NAT) Fort (NR) Wells (NAT)
OS 6" map (1900)
Dun Chonnuill, an island, two of whose three rocky precipitous heights have been fortified.
The remains of a wall 4' thick surround the summit of the central height, enclosing a reasonably level area about 600' x 300'. The entrance is in the NE and the approach, by a steep slope, is barred half-way up by a wall about 14' high, with an entrance gap 4'7" wide. A 'tunnel' resembling a drain about 20' long, 3' wide and 2' high, roofed with slabs and choked with rubbish, passes from the inside, through the wall, opening on the SE face. The remains of several oblong, dry stone buildings with rounded corners, which resemble some of the buildings on Eileach an Naoimh (NM60NW 1), lie within the enclosure, as do two possible wells, shown on the OS 6", which are depressions, 4' in depth and width, choked with rubbish. APs indicate that the enclosure published at NM 6803 1266 is rather strongly built to be purely domestic.
On top of the smaller, lower, northern height, there are the remains of a triangular fort, measuring 38' from the apex to the base, which is 50' long. The wall follows the precipice edge. At the foot of this rock are more oblong buildings, one of which measures 35' x 21', its now ruined, grass-covered wall having been about 4' thick. Connecting the bases of the two heights is a well- built wall, 60' long and 9' high, which cuts off access to both forts from the W. The entrance is between the wall and the northern height.
Other buildings are shown on OS 6" round the foot of the southern height.
Tradition states that Connal MacLauchlan from Ireland, took and fortified the island about the 14th century. John of Fordun (1872), writing about 1385, refers to it as "the great castle of Dunquhonle". (Information from A MacNaughton, Taynuilt).
D Christison 1889; Name Book 1878; T H Bryce and G A F Knight 1930
Occupying the top of the steep-sided island of Dun Chonnuil are the remains of a large fort, consisting of intermittent stretches of walling up to 2.0m high and generally c.2.0m wide. The entrance is in the NE up a steep gully blocked at intervals by three cross walls. The 'tunnel' could not be found. The interior contains several shielings and associated enclosures. A rocky knoll rises from the flat NE end of the island and on its triangular-shaped top are the turf-covered remains of a dun. Connecting this knoll with the large massif containing the fort is a strong stone wall as described.
(Visible on APs 106G/Scot/UK49: 4260-1).
Visited by OS (JP) 8 April 1970
