Monument record MHG5180 - Dun Ringill

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NG 5619 1708 (80m by 80m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NG51NE
Geographical Area SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Civil Parish STRATH

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

NG51NE 4 5619 1708.

(NG 5619 1708) Dun Ringill (NR)
OS 6" map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1903)

Dun Ringhill. Owing to the natural incline of the ground from the entrance to the cliff edge and partly to debris, the interior of Dun Ringhill, a broch-like structure is on a higher level than outside the W arc, and therefore less height of walling is necessary on the seaward side, where, being inaccessible, the wall appears also to have been thinnest and for the most part cannot now be traced. The walling is sub-oval on plan with axes 72ft and 58ft, and varies in thickness from 15ft at the entrance and 13ft at the cell on the SW. A distinguishing feature is a batter on the inner as well as the outer face.
A passage way, from which the lintels have been removed, pierces the wall in the NW and has been extended inwards by a later lime-built addition in which the original lintels have been reused. It terminates in a short flight of steps ascending to the court. The original entrance has a door check on each side, and bar holes. To the E of the court there are foundations of a secondary rectangular building measuring 15ft by 7ft 6ins internally, with side walls 2ft 6ins thick and gables 3ft 10ins thick; its main axis lying NNE-SSW. About the court level and over the entrance a gallery has been carried round the NW arc in the thickness of the wall. Only the inner wall, which is from 3ft 6ins - 5ft 9ins in thickness remains to a height of 2 or 3ft. In it are three openings, one in the N, one immediately over the rear of the main entrance, and one in the SW.
In the lower-level walling on the SW, an exceptionally fine and large oval chamber, arched by overlapping stones, has been exposed through its outer wall falling away. It has been reached by a doorway leading into a D-shaped passage joining the E end of the chamber at which point two lintels remain in position.
RCAHMS 1928; D Monro 1884; A Graham 1949; E W MacKie 1965; J R C Hamilton 1966.

Dun Ringill, as described by RCAHMS, is a galleried dun, its condition has deteriorated still further.
Visited by OS (A C) 17 April 1961.

Awaiting DES entry 98/072.

Sources/Archives (19)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Graham, A. 1949. 'Some observations on the brochs', Proc Soc Antiq Scot Vol. 81 1946-7, p.48-99. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 48-99. 98.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: MacKie, E W. 1992. 'The iron age semibrochs of Atlantic Scotland: a case study in the problems of deductive reasoning', Archaeol J Vol. 148 1991, p.149-81. Archaeol J. 149-81. 169-72.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: MacKie, E W. 1965. 'The origin and development of the broch and wheelhouse building cultures of the Scottish Iron Age', Proc Prehist Soc Vol. 31 1965, p.93-146. Proc Prehist Soc. 93-146. 93-146.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Miket and Roberts, R and D L. 1990. The medieval castles of Skye and Lochalsh. 45-8.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Monro, D. 1884. Description of the Western Isles of Scotland, 1549. 38.
  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1928. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Ninth report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles. . 208-10, No. 650.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Ritchie and Harman, J N G and M. 1985. Exploring Scotland's heritage: Argyll and the Western Isles. 134-5, no. 66.
  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Hamilton, J R C. 1966. Forts, brochs and wheel-houses in Northern Scotland. SHG23466. 111-30. 111-30.
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Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

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Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jan 28 2008 12:00AM

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