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Black Castle
Dun (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name Black Castle
Classification Dun (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) An Caisteal Dubh
Canmore ID 25855
Site Number NN86SE 5
NGR NN 88010 60803
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/25855
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Blair Atholl
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NN86SE 5 88010 60803
(NN 8802 6081) Black Castle (NR) (Remains of)
OS 6" map, Perthshire, 2nd ed., (1900)
An Caisteal Dubh or Black Castle commands a view in all directions except to the W, where it is overshadowed by Cnoc Chomhairle, 'Council Hill'. It measures 49' x 41' within a wall 1'6" - 2'6" high and 16' - 20' wide. The entrance is in the S and an old dyke runs up to it on the NW (c/f homestead NM86SE 3).
W J Watson 1915.
A homestead, generally as described, although the overall dimensions are 26.0m E-W x 24.5m N-S. Traces of a possible path or passage can be seen leading up to the entrance.
Visited by OS (R D) 15 September 1967.
This near circular enclosure has some structural affinities with the localised Perthshire homesteads, but its commanding position on the summit of a rock hill is more in keeping with a dun.
It measures 23.0m N-S by 22.2m E-W overall with the wall varying in thickness between 2.2m and 2.6m. Both faces are preserved intermittently, and in the E the wall is built on top of a vertical outcrop. The entrance on the S is 2.0m wide, and halfway along its W side, an upright slab acts as a door jamb. An unusual feature is that the interior is not level, and it is difficult to see how, if ever, the structure was roofed. The E half is built over the rocky hill summit with the W half 1.6m below it. The "path" leading up to the entrance is fortuitous. The old dyke joining the NW arc is relatively recent.
Both the Gaelic and English derivation of the name are in local use.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (A A) 2 April 1975.
Field Visit (21 May 1957)
This site was included within the RCAHMS Marginal Land Survey (1950-1962), an unpublished rescue project. Site descriptions, organised by county, are available to view online - see the searchable PDF in 'Digital Items'. These vary from short notes, to lengthy and full descriptions. Contemporary plane-table surveys and inked drawings, where available, can be viewed online in most cases - see 'Digital Images'. The original typecripts, notebooks and drawings can also be viewed in the RCAHMS search room.
Information from RCAHMS (GFG) 19 July 2013.
Measured Survey (18 April 2012 - 20 April 2012)
WA Heritage was commissioned by the Forestry Commission Scotland to produce detailed measured archaeological surveys of nine ringforts around Loch Tummel, Tay Forest District. The aim of this work is to inform future conservation management plans for the monuments and to provide an enhanced record of their current condition for inclusion in the Historic Environment Records for each site The survey was undertaken over a period of three days in April 2012. A detailed measured survey of each ringfort (and associated features) was undertaken using a combination of EDM and dGPS equipment. This report includes a series of detailed and annotated measured plans with associated contour survey at 1:100; a series of basic unannotated site plans with topographic hachures at 1:500, an enhanced photographic record and written description of each ringfort.
Information from Oasis (waherita1-127099)
