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MHG36613 - Dun - Polin

Summary

The severely denuded remains of a small coastal dun occupy the rounded boss of a natural rock outcrop.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A field survey of parts of the John Muir Trust's Sandwood Estate was carried out by ACFA members in July 1998. The initial selection of sites was guided by JMT's conservation manager.

Feature 2.3.1; The severely denuded remains of a small coastal dun occupy the rounded boss of a natural rock outcrop at NC 1915 5880. The dun is inferred to have been roughly circular, with a diameter of 10m, defended on the south and west sides by a short but steep drop to the beach (or sea, depending on the state of the tide) 'and on the east by a fairly sharp drop down the rock outcrop, but to the north the ground slopes away quite gently into a rather boggy grassy area. The entrance is to the north east, marked on the east side by a large rock outcrop and on the other side by the remains of a wall between 2 and 3m wide, now reduced to a double row of earthfast boulders with some rubble infill. A further section of walling, likewise reduced to a double row of earthfast boulders, spans the east side of the dun between two rock outcrops. No trace of walling remains along the west or south sides of the dun.

Despite the poor state of the remains, the interpretation of this feature as a dun is considered to be robust, based on the dimensions of the wall footings on the east and, in particular, the north sides. It is reasonable to suppose that the stone originally incorporated in the dun walls has been re-used in local field walls or for similar purposes. The absence of any remaining traces of wall footings on the west and south is explicable by these sections having been built directly on top of rock outcrops, making later stone removal easy. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2023 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 1914 5880 (33m by 33m)
Map sheet	NC15NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	EDDRACHILLIS

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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