Archaeology Notes

Event ID 677785

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/677785

NN74NW 2 7475 4759.

(NN 7475 4759) Castle (NR) (In Ruins)

OS 6" map (1900)

"An Dun Geal" - the White Fort - the best preserved of the west Perthshire "homesteads" (c/f NN44SE 7), stands in what appears to be a strongly defensive position on an eminence near the edge of a precipitous, rocky bluff, but which is in fact overlooked by higher ground, and, in common with others of the type, the site is associated with good arable and grazing land in a high sheltered valley.

The internal diameters are 65' by 58' within a wall 8' to 14' thick which still stands to a maximum height of four courses of massive stones, all the facers being visible. The entrance, c. 3' wide, is in the W. Internally there are foundations of three or four structures, small and circular, except the largest which is oval and abuts the main wall. Externally there are three very small circular structures immediately to the E. Feachem classifies all of these as secondary but does not say how late they are. From the middle of the S arc the foundations of a strong wall runs out to the precipice, and from the diagonally opposite point a similar wall runs NE towards a small marsh. E of this site is another slight eminence with on its E side an old wall running right to the precipice on the S and northwards through and beyond the marsh.

W J Watson 1912; R W Feachem 1963; M E C Stewart 1969

"An Dun Geal" (name verified) is a homestead as described and illustrated. The oval and circular features within the homestead, and the two circular examples abutting the E wall are shielings. The low, turf-covered walls extending from the homestead still exist, but their relationship to it is uncertain.

Surveyed at 1;10,000.

Visited by OS (JB) 29 September 1975

This homestead is now surrounded by afforestation.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (MJF) 29 November 1978