Archaeology Notes

Event ID 678151

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/678151

NN74NE 30 7781 4732

NN74NE 30.01 NN 7795 4765 Whorl

(NN 7781 4732) Fort (NR) (Site of)

OS 6" map (1902)

A fort known as 'Caisteal Mac Tuathal' or 'Dun Mac Tual' occupies the summit of a rocky knoll on the NE shoulder of Drummond Hill. The walls follow the contour of the hill forming a very irregular square figure, the inner area measuring c.300' x 210'. The W, more vulnerable, side is defended by two additional walls. The name is alleged to have a connection with Tuathal, son of Argusto, Abbot of Dunkeld in the 9th century. One of the best-preserved forts of its kind (R W Feachem 1963).

A Hutchieson 1889; D Christison 1900; R W Feachem 1963.

This fort is at NN 7790 4764 (not at the position indicated on the original OS map). It surmounts a rocky, afforested, spur, and is equipped with an annexe, and outworks protecting the easy approach from the SW (see enlargement). The names are no longer known.

The main wall, varying in thickness between 2.9m and 3.3m, is best preserved at the W corner where the outer face still stands to 1.8m. The entrance is not evident. There is a slight gap half way along the NW side, and another on the edge of the natural slope in the S.

The annexe on the N slope of the hill has a wall of similar strength to the main wall. A gap in the N seems to be a partially offset entrance. The first outwork is a wall 2.2m thick, in a poor state of preservation. A gap in the SSW is uncertainly an entrance or a mutilation. The second outwork is a rough, partially natural ditch, 8.0m wide and 1.5m deep, with traces of a revetment, or possibly the fragmentary remains of a wall, along its inner lip. Between these two outworks and just S of a large outcrop are traces of what may have been another wall running SE from the outcrop towards a high point half way along the inner lip of the ditch.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (JM) 4 December 1974.

Scheduled as Caisteal Mac Tuathal, fort 1200m NW of Taymouth Castle.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 16 February 2001.