Archaeology Notes

Event ID 727360

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/727360

NX89NW 7 8254 9507.

(NX 8254 9506) Earthwork (NR)

OS 6" map (1957)

This oval fort is situated at about 500 ft OD on the summit of a rocky hillock; it measures 152 ft NNW-SSE by 62 ft transversely. It is defended by a partly rock-cut ditch, 35 ft broad and 16 ft in maximum depth, starting at the brow of the steep slope on the W, passing round the E side to end on the cliffs in the S. Soil from the ditch forms a rampart above the counterscarp, while a parapet mound crowns the scarp in the N.

A well-defined approach enters into a slight hollow at the lowest point of the interior. An ill-defined outwork flanks the S side of the approach. In the interior are three slightly hollowed circular areas which may be hut sites.

RCAHMS 1920, visited 1913; R W Feachem 1956

Air photographs illustrate the fort well.

Visible on RAF vertical air photographs 541.A.529.4439-40.

(Undated) information in NMRS.

NX 8254 9507. A fort occupying a rocky knoll in a commanding position at the end of the sloping ridge south of Grennan Hill at 620 ft OD. The sub-rectangular enclosed area of 46.0m E-W by 24.0m is bounded by a deep ditch on the north and west sides and a 5m high vertical rock face and steep natural slopes on the east and south sides respectively. The ditch is up to 11.5m wide and 3.5m deep with a 0.9m high counterscarp bank and 0.8m high internal rampart on the west side only. On the steep south slope there is a level 2.0m wide terrace which is approximately 5.0m below the summit area. The ditch, terminated by the simple entrance on the north east side, does not appear to have continued beneath the vertical rock face.

There is no clear evidence of an outwork but a slight hollow way leads off from the entrance. Two near-circular 5.0m diameter levelled areas in the undulating interior may be hut platforms.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (TRG) 16 December 1977.