Archaeology Notes

Event ID 723629

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/723629

NX54NE 6 57315 49575

(NX 573 495) Excavations in 1964-5 on Ardwall Isle revealed a sequence of occupation starting with a local lay cemetery of possibly 5th or 6th century date to which a slab-shrine of Irish character was added c.600. A timber oratory was inserted into the cemetery in the mid-7th century, ignoring the slab-shrine, and further burials were aligned in this structure. This was in turn replaced, c.700, by a larger stone chapel, further burials being aligned on this new axis. Even when it had ceased to be used for worship and had partly collapsed, burials were inserted both inside and outside the ruins till the 11th century.

From perhaps as far back as the timber structure phase, the site was enclosed by a bank, and may have contained small cells, being probably an eremitic monastery serving the Gatehouse and Borgue district. The chapel appears to be Irish rather than Northumbrian in type.

A hall-house, extant c.1250-1350, was next built on the site, and this was followed by a tower erected c.1780-1800. The main site lies on the NE edge of the island, comprising an oval area 180' ENE-WSW by 110' transversely, enclosed by a bank, much of which is now incorporated at the base of a modern sheep dyke on the E. The Early Christian entrance seems to have been a little distance S of the break where the path from the beach is, under the sheep dyke. The stone chapel lies almost exactly EW, and measures 23' by 13' within 2 3/4' wide walls.

Numerous 8th/11th century cross-slabs and cross-incised stones were found during the excavation, as well as many small finds of metal, bone, glass and stone. All finds were given to Dumfries Museum.

C Thomas 1967