Bruach An Drumein, Poltalloch

In 1959 gravel extraction exposed the remains of a multi-period settlement situated on a low promontory about 500m SW of North Lodge, Poltalloch, and immediately to the N of the cists (NR89NW 36-8). A rescue excavation was undertaken by the late Mr Eric Cregeen between 1960 and 1962 on behalf of the Natural History and Antiquarian Society of Mid Argyll and the University of Glasgow. The following description is based on the report, which is currently being prepared for publication. (The Commissioners are greatly indebted to Miss S Cregeen for making available information in advance of publication, Cregeen 1960; 1961; Campbell and Sandeman 1964). Long cists examined in 1928 and an ogam-incised stone found in 1931, will be described in volume 7 of this Inventory (RCAHMS 1992; NR89NW 221).

The earliest features were several round and oval pits, which, because they were associated with channels and accompanied by burnt debris, were identified as 'cooking troughs'. The largest of these measured about 3m by 1.25m by 0.65m in depth and was lined with clay; it had subsequently been partly back-filled, and what may have been an oven had been constructed within it. This was in turn replaced by two hearths with stone surrounds. The pits have been compared to those associated with burnt mounds, and this phase of the site has been interpreted as an open-air cooking-place.

An arc of ditch was at some time drawn across the promontory from E to W about 80m from its S end to define a roughly triangular area about 0.8ha in extent, but, because of the gravel digging, the original area is uncertain. Although only fugitive traces of an accompanying bank survived at the time of excavation, the ditch appears to lie immediately to the S of the low bank or 'curved mound' recorded by Craw in 1928 (Craw 1929; 1932). Craw noted that the ground level was appreciably lower on the S side of the 'mound', which may indicate that in his time some traces of the main ditch still survived. The ditch was traced for a distance of 72m, but the spoil-heaps from the gravel workings prevented further exploration. Evidence of at least three other ditches was found in the area to the N. The main ditch had been recut on several occasions, but in its original form it was about 3m wide and 2m deep. When it went out of use it was filled, and cobbling was laid over it for at least part of its length. A squared and dressed stone, surrounded by an area of cobbling about 5m in diameter, was set into the fill of the earliest phase of the ditch, but its date and function are unknown. The stone fell in 1974 and now lies about 70m SE of its original position and 35m NE of Cist A (NR89NW 36-8); it measures 2.44m in length and 0.7m by 0.4m in girth (Craw 1929).

Within the area cut off by the ditch about sixty post-holes were uncovered, some of which were cut through the pits and channels of the 'cooking troughs'. The outlines of two snccessive circular timber buildings were tentatively identified. The earlier survived as an arc of ten post-holes with a diameter of about 10m, but almost half of its area had been cut away by the gravel workings. Several large post-holes lined with packing-stones were discovered, and part of the floor was roughly paved with stone slabs. The hearths with stone surrounds constructed within the largest 'cooking trough' may be associated with the occupation of this building. The floor was subsequently levelled up with clay, and the second building (about 7.5m in diameter) was erected partly overlying the site of the first. The identification of charcoal from the post-holes indicates that it was constructed with an oak frame. The building was destroyed by fire and the site subsequently cleared. In two pits just outside the main ditch large quantities of grain and wattle-and-daub were found amongst burnt debris.

Immediately to the W of the timber buildings, excavation revealed a series of stone foundations, including those of a small round hut; its walls may have been constructed with outer and inner faces of stone and a core of earth and rubble. There was evidence of iron-working both inside and around the hut. Dating for this phase of activity is provided by the discovery of two glass beads belonging to the second half of the first millennium AD.

Visited May 1986

RCAHMS 1988

Excavation in advance of gravel extraction 1960-62 revealed evidence of a ditched enclosure apparently cutting off a promontory at the southern end of a fluvio-glacial terrace. Originally conceived by the excavator as a double-ditched earthwork, more recent analysis prior to publication (Abernethy 2009) suggests that only one ditch was ever open at any one time, but that it had been recut on at least four occasions and on slightly different lines; in its separate phases it varied from 3m to 4.5m in breadth by 1.5m in depth below the level of the subsoil. The ditch was traced for some 70m in an arc extending from the E margin of the promontory round towards the W and may have cut off an area measuring up to 80m across (0.5ha), within which there was evidence of at least two round-houses and several large cooking pits, in addition to evidence of later use for a cemetery and for occupation in the early medieval period.

Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 10 August 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC2461

The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.