Desk Based Assessment
Date 12 October 1982
Event ID 694200
Category Recording
Type Desk Based Assessment
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/694200
NO88SE 2 8821 8464
(NO 8821 8464) Dunnicaer (Sculptured Standing Stones found) (TI)
OS 25" map, (1904)
An ancient settlement appears to have been situated on the, now inaccessible, isolated rock called Dunnicaer, or Dun-na-caer (Ritchie 1915), but it has never been properly explored. Watt believed it to have been a fort, used at some time as the retreat of a hermit. Stuart (1856) suggested that it was an ecclesiastical settlement of early missionaries, while Simpson believed that it could have been a retreat for Ninianic missionaries occupying the promontory on which stands Dunnottar Castle (NO88SE 11).
In 1832 several stones were thrown into the sea from a low, buried, wall along part of the edge of the rock. Subsequently a number of them were recovered and six of them bearing Pictish symbols - mainly of regal and religious significance (Thomas 1963) - were published by Stuart, who says that there were others which have disappeared. Alexander Thomson (1862) purchased five of the stones illustrated by Stuart and had them preserved at Banchory House (NJ 9150 0232), NJ90SW 6.
J R Allen and J Anderson 1903; J Stuart 1856; 1867; A Thomson 1962; J Ritchie 1915; J C Watt 1914; C Thomas 1963; I M Henderson 1960.
The summit of Dunnicaer is covered in deep, tussocky turf and, although there are a few loose stones around the edges, no trace of any structure is visible.
RCAHMS 1982.
Information from OS (IF) 12 October 1982
