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Gortan Choirill
Dyke(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Gortan Choirill
Classification Dyke(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 39010
Site Number NR76SW 9
NGR NR 717 628
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/39010
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish South Knapdale
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR76SW 9 717 628.
NR 716 628. Listed under Early Christian - pre-12th century sites, Gortan Choirill is described as an area of more than 3 acres marked out by a massive dyke, c. 4'6" high in places, between two burns. Traces of smaller enclosure and possibly huts inside, especially close E of a low rocky outcrop near the centre of the area. A well, now a house supply, called Tobar an t-Socaich (NR 7172 6289) is also enclosed. The ONB (1868) records it as "where a man named Coirill (Cyril) was buried;" and also gives the name of the small area of uncultivated ground on the opposite ridge to the W, NR 710 629, as "Annaid". Neither that name, nor "Gortan Choirill" is in current use locally.
Name Book 1868; M Campbell and M Sandeman 1964.
NR 717 628. A turf dyke of indeterminate age runs from NR 7173 6259 to NR 7171 6295 and measures up to 4.0m wide and 1.5m high. There are traces of a similar dyke running along the top of the ridge from NR 7150 6260 to NR 7155 6273. The enclosed area is heavily overgrown with bracken and no "small enclosures" were located.
There is no ground evidence to support an Early Christian date for this site. The turf dykes appear to be no different to many enclosure banks in the area. The well is a natural spring which now issues into a galvanised tank.
Visited by OS (I A) 2 July 1973.
