EHG4890 - Excavation - Tarrel Dun, Ross and Cromarty

Tarrel Dun is a precipitous rocky knoll located directly on the seashore on the east coast of the peninsula. The grassy knoll commands clear views along an extensive length of shoreline and east across the Moray Firth and its coastline. The hill is cone-shaped with a sub-circular flat cummit which is 11m in length E-W and 7m in width N-S. The summit is located at 18m OD. On the seaward side of the hill the summit drops to vertical cliff faces on the north-east, east and south sides. On the landward side the upper north and west slopes of the knoll are steep sloping, falling to a gentle slope near the base. A detailed digital topographic and earthwork survey was undertaken at Tarrel and its immediate environs in January 2013. Following the preliminary archaeological survey it was decided to open five evaluation trenches to expose an area on the summit, the wal encircling the summit, and two of the walls/banks located on the lower slopes of the hill. The objectives of the archaeological investigation were: to evaluate the summit of the knoll; to characterise the upstanding archaeology; to establish the date for the activity on the hill and in the immediate environs; and to explore the cave and record any archaeological features within. <1>