Archaeology Notes

Event ID 812104

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/812104

NR24SE 3 2849 4070

(NR 2849 4070) Dun Athad (NR)

OS 6" map (1900)

A dun on a promontory which is linked to the mainland by a natural causeway. The remains of the fortifications crowning the ascent from the causeway on the promontory side belong to at least two periods. The early part consists of a chamber, 39ft NW-SE by 19 1/2ft NE-SW, with an entrance in the NW wall opening on the narrow freeway giving access from causeway to promontory. Later the landward wall of this chamber was continued across the freeway to the cliff face (W Lamont 1959). 'Just within the fortifications are two open ports, presumably for dropping rubbish over the cliffs on either side. At the point where the Trig Station is marked on the map there is a depression which looks as though it had been surrounded by drystone'.

Information from W D Lamont letter, 2 October 1957.

A narrow promontory fort 90.0m NE-SW by 15.0m defended on the landward side by a ruined wall and elsewhere by vertical cliffs. The wall, which has intermittent outer facing-stones intact, is 20.0m long and is spread to a maximum of 6.5m. The entrance is collapsed and no longer visible. Immediately behind the wall is a level area apparently rock-cut and measuring 15.0m by 12.0m which may be the main living area of the fort. There is no trace of any structure at the site of the OS Trig.

The promontory is approached by a sunken way, lined with earthen banks, and a natural causeway 3.0m wide. The whole of the surface of the fort is under rig and furrow and it seems probable that the sunken way is associated with this later use.

Surveyed at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (BS) 31 May 1978