Monument record MHG3439 - Iron Age fort on summit of Dun Deardail
Summary
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 5268 2394 (41m by 45m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH52SW |
| Old County | INVERNESS-SHIRE |
| Civil Parish | DORES |
| Geographical Area | INVERNESS |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
NH52SW 2 5268 2394.
(NH 5270 2393) Dun Dearduil (NAT) Vitrified Fort (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)
Occupying the summit of a cliff-girt ridge named Dun Dearduil is a fort, said by the RCAHMS (Information from RCAHMS to OS 1957) to be vitrified. It is subrectangular on plan, measuring 26.0m NNE-SSW by a maximum of 15.0m within a tumbled turf-covered wall surviving to an average height of 0.8m. The footings of the outer wall face are visible laid on bare rock on the cliff edge on the E side, suggesting an approximate wall thickness here of c. 5.0m. The RCAHMS note "numerous lumps of vitrifaction" in the wall, but, despite exploratory excavation in considerable amounts of tumble around the fort, none was seen. The entrance is discernible as a lowering in the wall in the SSE arc. Within the fort, at the lowest point in the SW corner, is a cistern, now visible as a damp, irregular depression c. 2.0m in diameter. Some 80.0m SW of the fort on a shoulder of the same ridge is another fort, now greatly denuded (see NH 52 SW 8). At NH 5271 2381 in a gully to the S of the fort is a stone-lined well, probably later.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
Enlargement at 1:1250.
Visited by OS (N K B) 10 April 1970; Ross 1915
(NH 5268 2394) Dun Deardail (NAT) Fort (NR)
OS 1/10,000 map, (1972)
No change to previous field report.
Revised at 1/10,000
Visited by OS (J M) 19 January 1979
Historic Scotland describes this as an Iron Age fort, one of two forts and associated outworks on Dun Deardail. This fort occupies the true summit knoll and is sub-rectangular on plan. The measurements in the schedule entry differ from those given above, being 32m from NNE to SSW and a maximum width of 20m. The flat summit is surrounded by a turf-covered wall 0.8m high and the footings of the outer wall face can be seen laid on bare rock to the east. There is no mention of vitrification in the schedule entry. <1>
The fort was visited an dphotographed by R Spencer-Jones on 30/10/2014. The terrain surrounding the two forts is now littered with the remains of fallen trees, brash and other forestry debris. This means that the site can only be achieved after considerable wearisome exertion. <2>
Sources/Archives (14)
- --- SHG4621 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4624 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4625 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4626 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4628 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4630 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4631 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG4634 Image/Photograph(s): B/W Negative. .
- --- SHG674 Text/Publication/Article: Ross, A. 1915. 'Dun-Dhearduil and Tor-Duin hill forts', Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club Vol. 7 1906-12, p.18-32. Trans Inverness Sci Soc Fld Club. 18-32. 18-23.
- --- SHG9449 Image/Photograph(s): Dun Deardail fort, Inverfarigaig. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG9452 Image/Photograph(s): Dun Deardail fort. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- --- SHG9453 Image/Photograph(s): Dun Deadail fort. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
- <1> SHG23289 Text/Designation Notification/Scheduled Monument: Historic Scotland. 2008. Entry in the Schedule of Monuments Re: The Monument known as Dun Deardail, forts 410m and 520m ENE of Fasnagruig. Digital (scanned as PDF).
- <2> SHG26680 Text/Correspondence: Spencer-Jones, R.. 2014. Email and photographs for Dun Deardail. North of Scotland Archaeological Society. Yes. Digital.
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Protected Status/Designation
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Record last edited
Nov 6 2014 1:19PM
