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Dalmakethar
Earthwork (Prehistoric)
Site Name Dalmakethar
Classification Earthwork (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 66968
Site Number NY19SW 4
NGR NY 11685 91464
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/66968
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Applegarth
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NY19SW 4 1170 9145
(NY 1170 9145) Ancient Earthwork (NAT)
OS 6" map, (1957).
See also NY19SW 13 and NY19SW 14.
Described as a fort by RCAHMS, but as a miscellaneous earthwork by Feachem.
RCAHMS 1920; R W Feachem 1956.
Listed among 'Smaller forts and defended settlements'.
G Jobey 1971.
At the foot of a slight slope which opens out on to a natural promontory is an enigmatic earthwork. It consists of a substantial earth-and-stone rampart with an outer ditch which runs from a river gully on the N, is then drawn across the promontory on the E, and finishes in a shallow re-entrant on the S. About 8.0m to the W of this rampart and running parallel to it, are two slight stony banks 0.5m high and 1.0m apart. They commence on the edge of the steep slope to the N and extend S for c. 30.0m before terminating above a slight slope to the S. 20 or 30m back from these banks and set on a level or slightly hollowed area of the promontory are the foundations of two possible stone-built huts c. 9.0m and 11.0m in diameter. The N side of the promontory is protected by a steep slope to the stream below but elsewhere, particularly in the S, there are neither natural nor artificial defences. It is almost certain that the rampart and ditch, and the two banks were constructed at different periods and the lack of defences on the S and W indicates that this site belongs to the local category of hill-slope settlements, and may be contemporary with the probable homesteads close-by (NY19SW 13 and NY19SW 14 ).
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (R D), 5 January 1972
Field Visit (14 August 1912)
Fort, Dalmakethar.
This fort crosses the neck of a low promontory which projects on the 400 feet contour line on the west of Longerhallis Hill, about ½ mile south-south-east of Dalmakethar. On the north it overlooks the deep ravine of a burn, and on the south and west it is protected by steep natural slopes. It is now covered by a young plantation, and the only defences traceable are an outer trench 28 feet wide and 5 feet and 3 feet deep below the crests of scarp and counterscarp respectively, running from the edge of the ravine across the neck, with a convex outline to the east; a rampart some 5 feet in height ; a slighter mound 40 feet in rear of it ; and, separated by a shallow trench 17 feet in width, another low mound. The two inner mounds are very slight and noticeable only towards the edge of the ravine.
RCAHMS 1920, visited 14 August 1912.
OS 6" map, Dumf., 2nd ed, (1900).
Field Visit (17 July 1990)
NY 1170 9145 NY19SW 4
This earthwork is situated on a promontory above the confluence of two burns on the NW flank of Longerhallis Hill. It is now obscured by a mature forestry plantation and this account is largely based on earlier descriptions.
The defences may belong to two periods: one represented by an arc of bank (6.4m thick and 1m high) and external ditch (4.3m wide and up to 0.3m deep) drawn across the neck of the promontory, and the other by twin banks (up to 3.8m thick and 0.5m high) and ditches (up to 2.6m wide) running roughly parallel to, but within the line of, the outer bank.
The two circular 'huts' (measuring 9m and 11m in diameter respectively) that were noted by OS surveyors (in 1972) within the interior could not be located on the date of visit.
Visited by RCAHMS (SMF), 17 July 1990 .
Listed as fort.
RCAHMS 1997.
Note (17 June 2014 - 23 May 2016)
This fort, which is currently under a mature coniferous plantation, occupies a promontory projecting from a gentle W-facing slope, with a deep stream gully forming its NE margin and steep slopes elsewhere. A rampart some 6.4m in thickness by 1m in height, with an external ditch up to 4.3m in breadth, has been drawn across the neck of the promontory on the E to cut off an area measuring at least 60m from ESE to WNW by 45m transversely (0.28ha). Concentrically placed within the interior, about 8m to the rear of the rampart, there are traces of two other low banks with a medial ditch also cutting across the promontory, though whether earlier or later in date is unknown. Between 20m and 30m to the rear of these the OS identified the stone foundations of two round-houses measuring 9m and 11m in diameter respectively, but these are very unusual features in Iron Age settlements in this area and were not located when RCAHMS revisited the site in 1990. The position of the entrance is unknown.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 23 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC1015
