MHG12131 - Dun - Loch Inchard
Summary
A small rocky islet contains the very denuded and scant remains of a small, D-shaped, fortified enclosure or dun.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
At NC 2272 5575 surmounting a rocky islet only approachable at low water, is a ruinous, D-shaped enclosure, possibly a robbed dun. Noted as a platform by Welsh (T C Welsh 1969), it measures approximately 11 m ESE-WNW along the straight side of the 'D', by some 8m transversely between the centres of a ruinous, turf-covered wall spread to about 2.5 m in which no facing stone is evident, but from the amount of rubble evident has obviously been a strong wall, probably robbed of larger material.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (A A) 19 July 1971; T C Welsh 1969.
No change. Though the remains are scant, both the size and position, maximising the limited natural defensive features of the islet leave little doubt that this is a typical small west coast dun.
Visited by OS (N K B) 15 July 1980.
Gourlay (Ref 1) (Sutherlnd, and archaeological guide 1996) has the following entry (p.81):
'A small rocky islet contains the very denuded and scant remains of a small, D-shaped, fortified enclosure or dun. It measures about 11 metres along its straight side, by about 8 metres across, and the wall, though now a ruinous rubble spread some 2.5 metres wide, must once have been strongly built. The islet can only beapproached at low tide, adding to the defensibility of the site.'
A second archaeological survey of Sandwood Estate in the parish of Eddrachillis was undertaken by ACFA in 2002.
Situated on top of the smaller of two tidal islands which lie just off the north shore of Loch Inchard at Kinlochbervie, this feature, identified as a small dun and probably dating from the first millenium BC, comprises a somewhat irregular subcircular, flat grassy platform 8.5m E-W by 6.6m N-S, covering the entire island top. The platform has been revetted and in places stone is visible, but there are no obvious internal features. There is an entrance on the southwest side. There is no evidence of walling, but it is possible the platform may have been enclosed by a palisade or fence. <1>
Sources/Archives (2)
- --- SHG998 Text/Publication/Article: Welsh, T C. 1969. 'Kinlochbervie', Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1969, p.50. Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. 50. 50.
- <1> SHG22061 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Waterton, J. (ed). 2003. A second archaeological field survey of parts of the John Muir Trust's Sandwood Estate and some adjacent areas, Highland (Surtherland Area), Parish of Eddrachillis. Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists (ACFA). 14/10/2003. Paper and Digital. Site 1a.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NC 2271 5575 (80m by 80m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NC25NW |
| Geographical Area | SUTHERLAND |
| Civil Parish | EDDRACHILLIS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (1)
External Links (1)
- https://trove.scot/place/4689 (View record on the HES Trove website)
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