Archaeology Notes

Event ID 831473

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/831473

NH95NW 11 9172 5562

(NH 9172 5562) Dooket Hill (NR)

(Supposed to have been A Mote Hill (NR)

OS 6" map (1906)

See also NH95NW 8 and NH95NW 27.

Castle, or Doocot, Hill, a motte, is the site of the Royal Castle of Auldearn of William the Lion (1165-1214). In support of this statement the National Trust write (List of Properties 1959) that the second charter of the Burgh of Inverness was signed at Auldearn by William the Lion some time after 1180 and (letter from NTS, 1 June 1966) the Earl of Ross submitted to Robert Bruce at the Castle of Auldearn in 1308. They deduce from this that 'it is safe to say that there was a royal castle here which dated back to the 12th century, but whether it was built by William the Lion or not cannot be determined.'

The outline of the ditch is still clearly visible.

(Unmdated) information in NMRS.

The motte on Dooket or Castle Hill overlooks the village of Auldearn. It measures 59.0m in diameter externally by 8.0m high. The flat central area enclosed by a rampart, measures 32.0m E-W by 27.0m transversely, in the centre of which is a 17th century dovecot (NH95NW 8). No trace of an outer ditch could be seen, and the external slopes are bounded by a modern wall.

Resurveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RD) 26 November 1965

NH 917 556 An evaluation on a site immediately to the SW of Dooket Hill Motte (NMRS NH95NW 11) revealed several isolated pits and gullies. A large spread of redeposited gravel was present in the NE corner of the evaluation area; it overlay an area of natural subsoil which appears to have been quarried out or pitted. This was bounded on its northern extremity by two artificial gullies, one of which was filled with rounded stones.

A large ditch oriented SE-NW was located on the SE edge of the evaluation area, but was not identified elsewhere. A large spread of burnt material was identified at the bottom of the slope, though it did not appear to have any structure to it. None of these features contained any datable material.

A report has been lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Highland Council.

B Glendinning 1999

NH 917 556. The report on the above site gives details of the archaeological features identified during the evaluation. The report also gives several recommendations concerning proposed development for the site. Housing proposed for the area of the farmyard should not affect any of the archaeology as long as it does not impact on the whin bushes to the NW of the site. The farm buildings them selves are modern and do not require recording. The proposed car park is on a area of deep top soil and the archaeological features (burnt deposit and small gully) could be left in place as long as a sufficient depth of overburden is used. The root of the proposed path is believed to cross the area of trench three. Dew to the density of the archaeology and the lack of topsoil in that area further work is recommended before putting the path in place.

Sponsors: Highland Council

NMRS MS/726/146 (Edinburgh University Centre for Field Archaeology, January 1999)

A topographic survey was conducted of Dooket Hill, the motte upon which the doocot stands (NMRS NH95NW 8). The motte may have formed the focus of a more substantial fortification, there perhaps having been a bailey outwith the survey area to the E and now built over. A well-preserved embankment that encloses the summit of the motte may represent subsequent modification. Whether the embankment relates to royalist preparations before the 1646 Battle of Auldearn cannot be determined without excavation. A substantial depression in the NE part of the summit may represent the quarry source for its construction and, if so, would consequently represent a secondary development.

The embankment is irregularly formed with a series of dips or shallow depressions, four or five to the W and two to the NE. It is considered at least possible that these represent gun emplacements hastily formed in preparation for the 1646 battle, those to the W commanding the battlefield and those to the NE protecting the flank of the royalist position. The latter are particularly suggestive, with apparent platforms within the embrasures.

On the SE part of the summit low earthworks suggest a rectangular structure or building platform; whether this relates to the Civil War period cannot be known without physical investigation.

Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland.

T Addyman 2000

Scheduled with NH95NW 8 as Dooket Hill, motte and doocot, Auldearn.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 21 December 2000.

NH 917 556 A fencing contract to enclose the motte at Auldearn (NH95NW 11) required a watching brief to comply with Scheduled Monument Consent. The fence posts were driven into the ground after slight holes had been prepared using a 'scissor' spade. Nothing of archaeological interest was recorded.

Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.

Sponsor: NTS.

J Harden 2002.