Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Archaeology Notes
Event ID 729437
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/729437
NX95NE 4 9962 5769
(NX 9962 5769) McCulloch's Castle (NR)
OS 6" map (1946)
McCulloch's Castle was excavated, during 1962 and 1963 by the Society under the direction of J Scott-Elliott, with help from R W Feachem and I MacIvor.
It is a roughly semi-circular enclosure, circumferenced by a ditch with an internal rampart; and probably dates from the first 150 years AD.
The ditch, partially rock-cut, is U-shaped in section, but may originally have been V-shaped. It averages 12' in depth and shows no evidence of having been faced. A modern culvert crosses each end of the ditch.
The clay-built rampart is 4'6" high at its mid-point decreasing in height towards the ends. On top is a later stone addition. There is evidence that a wooden palisade ran from the West end of the rampart, eastward along the cliff, and a large post-hole suggests that the gate stood between the ends of the rampart and the palisade. There are signs of a cobbled track, 3' below the surface, on the outer side of the ditch, opposite the gateway.
No certain structural shapes could be seen to emerge from the positions of the many post-holes in the interior. The only datable finds came from the hearth, and included a piece of 2nd c. Samian pottery and a native stone palette of the Roman era.
The RCAHM report of 1914 indicates a well in the northern part of the ditch, this is now silted over and cannot be located. At the beginning of the century the site was in use as an ornamental garden.
The origin of the name cannot be traced. There is no record of the site having belonged to the McCullochs.
J Scott-Elliott 1964
"McCulloch's Castle" is as described above and generally as planned by RCAHMS although there is now no trace of the inner scarp on the east side. The site is heavily overgrown with trees, brambles and nettles.
Re-surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (JTT) 11 August 1965
For classification of Roman material, see A S Robertson 1970.
