Glenhead

NS24NW 9 2148 4539

(NS 2148 4539) Fort (NR)

OS 6" map (1911)

The fort consists of two flat-topped mounds, with steep and high desents all round except on the NW where the more northerly mound is cut off from the rest of the plateau by a cut about 25ft deep. A similar and parallel cut about 12ft deep separates the two mounds of which the northerly is higher by 6 or 7ft and measures 45 by 27ft interiorly with a rampart only on the north side. They are apparently pure earthworks.

D Christison 1893.

Hendry's excavation in 1962 - he calls the site 'Glenhead Double Fort' - revealed that the ramparts and up cast are of loose stones, clay and earth without any wall-faces. In the interior of the northern work were found the post-holes of three timber uprights. There were no other traces of occupation and finds were a few unidentifiable bone fragments. T ; RCAHMS Marginal Lands TS; A Hendry 1962.

As described above. The earthworks are identical in construction and appear to be contemporaneous.

Resurveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (JTT), 22 October 1964.

The site was excavated by members of Glasgow University Extra-Mural Class in Archaeology under Hendry in 1968 and 1969, and the 'forts' proved to be the sites of large wooden huts whose roofs were supported by rings of uprights. Both occupied the sites of earlier huts that on the larger site having measured 16' in diameter, and having had a central support which was replaced by a hearth in the secondary hut.

The 'rampart' of this hut was of tough pink clay and stones.

Stone-lined passages, entered by steps from the hut interiors, led under the "ramparts". These were filled with debris from the earlier huts and produced Roman glass, 1st century Samian and a fragment of a fine 1st century Roman bowl, as well as rotary querns and a rim sherd similar in form to some from Vaul, Tiree. Fragments of a bronze spiral finger ring were found in a post hole and on the floor of the upper hut pieces of crucible were found.

Only the upper site showed traces of later occupation fragments of a mediaeval cooking jar.

T A Hendry 1968; T A Hendry 1969; A S Robertson 1970.

'Gourock Burn lower fort'; fragments of bronze spiral finger-ring.

E J MacKie 1971.

Excavation was completed in 1972 with the exploration of the passage way. Entrance was found in each case to have been by passageway under the rampart. New passages unlocated, were constructed at the beginning of the 2nd period of occupation and the old ones blocked. The north passage was 25' long, 4' deep and on average 3' wide. A sestertius of Sabina (about 128-138 AD) was found in its infill.

T A Hendry 1972.

No change. Site owner - Mrs Mackie (factor) South Annan Estate, Irvine.

Visited by OS (JRL), November 1982