Archaeology Notes

Event ID 697628

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/697628

NR88NW 1 8018 8934.

NR 802 892: Dun Buidhe occupies the summit of a high, almost conical crag with a good outlook. Its remains comprise a round citadel, c. 30' in diameter, with two curving terraces below to the N. A Forestry Commission fire look-out hut is built on a stone base, overlying tumble. Footings in cleft to SW; terrace walling massive.

M Campbell and M Sandeman 1964.

NR 8018 8936: The summit of Dun Buidhe is occupied by the much reduced remains of a fort. The summit area measures 46.0m NE-SE by 17.0m and was originally enclosed on the N and W by a wall of which all that survives are several outer facing stones on the N. On the E and S rock faces provide adequate defence. The entrance lies on the N. On the N and W where access is easiest a grass-covered terrace 3.0m wide and up to 2.5m high runs around the hill. It is difficult to assess its relationship to the fort, since it is covered by afforestation, but it probably represents a lower defence. An access path has been built over this terrace to the look-out tower on the summit.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS (D W R) 29 May 1973.

A fort, surviving generally as described. The only structural remains are a few probable facing stones on the north, the hilltop being otherwise completely grass-covered.

Surveyed at 1/10,000.

Visited by OS (B S) 22 March 1977.

All natural, or insufficient remains to be certain.

Information from RCAHMS (JNGR) December 1986.

NR 800 880 A programme of fieldwork in January and February 2005 followed a desk-based assessment of sites and monuments within North Knapdale Forest, listed in the Forestry Commission heritage database. The survey concentrated on sites that had prehistoric potential or sites about which little was known. In total, 55 sites were visited and briefly recorded. Prehistoric sites of note include a prominent cup-marked boulder, and a probable burial cairn with possible associated cist. Four small defended structures or duns were identified during the survey. Two of these had previously been recorded as duns or forts, but had subsequently been dismissed as natural features, while the other two structures appear to be previously unknown. Of the sites belonging to the later historical period, a possible mill site was discovered, although the majority of the sites appear to relate to later agricultural settlement.

Prehistoric sites - Duns

Structures at Branagad (NR 79866 86794) and Balure (NR 7 8270 85750) have only recently come to light during forestry operations. The structures at Dunans (NR89SW 9) and Dun Buidhe (NR88NW 1) need to be reinstated as probable defended structures, as their nature had been questioned in more recent times; at both sites the remnants of walls were partially revealed during the survey.

NR 80180 89340 What appears to be a rock-cut basin lies close to the possible dun site at Dun Buidhe, and may be related. However, its position at the edge of a large vertically sided rock suggests the basin was not very practical to use on a daily or domestic basis.

Reports to be lodged with WoSAS SMR and NMRS.

Sponsor: Forestry Commission.

R Regan 2005