Airyolland

No. 195. Fort, Airyolland.

On a slight rise in a cultivated field some 250 yards N of the farm house of Airyolland is a small sub-oval fort encircled by a stony rampart some 7’ to 8’ in thickness. The interior, which measures 86’ from N to S by 78’ from E to W, is bounded on the N by a wall which appears to be secondary, and outside of which foundations of a like character are visible below the turf. The interior is under cultivation.

Visited by RCAHMS (AOC) 15th May 1911.

NX34NW 14 3078 4775.

(NX 3078 4775) Earthwork (NR)

OS 6" map (1957)

(This feature, called a fort by the RCAHMS, is comparable with NX24NE 12 which is classified as a homestead by Feachem). It consists of a sub-oval enclosure, 86' N-S by 78' E-W within a stony bank 7'-8' in thickness. The interior, which is under cultivation, is bounded on the N by a wall which appears to be secondary, and outside of which foundations of like character are visible below the turf.

Information from OS (IF) 19 July 1973.

Source: RCAHMS 1912, visited 1911

A near-circular homestead levelled into a gentle south- east-facing slope and overlooking good arable land. It measures 25.5m N-S by 24.0m within a collapsed stone wall varying in thickness from 2.5m to 4.5m and with a maximum height of 1.2m. A few outer facing stones are visible on the south-west while on the south-east a 5.0m length of inner facing can be traced. Elsewhere field clearance dumping has obscured details of the walling. A wall 6.0m long leads into the interior from the north and terminates on a large boulder set on end. The purpose of this feature is not clear but it may mark the position of the entrance which is otherwise not apparent. The interior is level and featureless.

The remains to the north of the homestead are reduced almost to ground level and cannot be surveyed or interpreted.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (BS) 10 May 1977

NX 3078 4775 Airyolland I. A survey was carried out at Airyolland I (NX34NW 14). This site consists of a circular enclosure within a sub-circular enclosing bank, 24m in internal diameter and 38m externally at the extent of the embankment spread. The bank stands at a maximum height of 1.8m where it makes greatest use of the natural slope, but with an average height of 0.85m. The bank is constructed of earth and stone, and has been reduced to the extent that the original edges are obscured. There is no certain trace of the entrance, though a slight depression in the bank on the downslope, eastern side may represent the remains of this feature.

Sponsors: Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, University of Nottingham.

M G Cavers 2004

NX 308 477 A short season of exploratory excavation was carried out at Airyolland homestead I in May 2006. Two trenches were excavated. The first of these was a slot across the rampart to the S of the site, which encountered a massive stone-built wall 3m thick, with well built facing stones and a rubble core. The second trench encountered the rubble and stone footings of internal structures, as well as large boulders which may have been incorporated into these buildings. Finds were sparse, but included metalworking slag and worked coarse stone, as well as a range of post-medieval pottery sherds. Further work is planned for 2007.

Archive to be deposited with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society; Russell Trust; Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Mouswald Trust.

G Cavers and G Geddes 2006

NX 3078 4775 The second phase of excavation was carried out at Airyolland I homestead in August 2007. Four trenches were excavated over the rampart and within the interior of the site. The largest interior trench encountered no significant structures or features, suggesting that much of the interior of the site may have been open. The two remaining interior trenches encountered the footings of a low stone wall running perpendicular to the circumference rampart. A number of pits or postholes were associated with this wall, although the deposits had been heavily disturbed by ploughing. The fourth trench, over the rampart to the W, encountered an old ground surface from which environmental samples were taken. Finds were few but included an unfinished spindle whorl.

Archive to be deposited with RCAHMS.

Funder: DGNHAS, Russell Trust, Hunter Trust, Mouswald Trust, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.