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Dunadd

Argyll & Bute, Scotland · Atlas SC2466

Dunadd is a contour fort and a multiple enclosure in Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate and partial multivallate rampart form, surface evidence of stone wall, and an enclosed area of 0.16 hectares.

Banks or ramparts are the remains most likely to be visible.

The topographic record places it on a hilltop and at 50 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes pasture, scrub or bracken, and heather moorland.

Dating evidence is recorded for before 1200 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, AD 50–400, and AD 400–800 (Artefactual, C14, and Other). Reliability is recorded as A - High.

A scheduled monument number is recorded (90108).

Location

Atlas number
SC2466 (2466)
Country
Scotland
Current county or unitary authority
Argyll & Bute
Historic county
Argyll
Parish, community, or townland
Kilmichael Glassary
National Grid reference
NR 8365 9356
Latitude
56.08578
Longitude
-5.47899
Altitude
50 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort and multiple enclosure
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate and partial multivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
3
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 3, SE 1, SW 1, NW 1
Possible original entrances
1
Breaks through the ramparts
1
Enclosed area
0.16 ha
Enclosure areas
0.02 ha, 0.16 ha
Footprint
0.44 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
stone wall
Enclosing works, excavated
stone wall
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system
Entrance forms
Passage-way/Corridor (South east)

Landscape

Topographic position
hilltop
Aspect
level
Land use
pasture, scrub or bracken, and heather moorland
Water source
well or cistern

Dating

Dating
before 1200 BC, 400 BC–AD 50, AD 50–400, AD 400–800, and undated
Dating evidence
Artefactual, C14, and Other
Dating reliability
A - High

Interior and investigation

Interior surface
rectangular stone structures
Finds
pottery, metal, metalworking, animal bones, and lithics
Investigations
1st Identified Written Reference (1833); Other (1850); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1865); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1878); Earthwork Survey (1903); Excavation (1904); Excavation (1905); Earthwork Survey (1905); Excavation (1929); Earthwork Survey (1

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
90108
HER
The West of Scotland Archaeology Service 4154
National record
record NR 89 SW 1; monument 39564
Wikidata
Q31094977

Sources

References

  1. Christison, D (1904) 'The forts of Kilmartin, Kilmichael Glassery, and North Knapdale, Argyll'. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 38 (1903-4), 205-55
  2. Christison, D (1905) 'Report on the Society's excavations of forts on the Poltalloch Estate, Argyll, in 1904-5'. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 39 (1904-5), 259-325
  3. Craw, J H (1930) 'Excavations at Dunadd and at other sites on the Poltalloch Estates, Argyll'. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 64 (1929-30), 111-46
  4. Feachem, R W (1955) 'Fortifications'. 66-86 in Wainwright, F T (ed) The Problem of the Picts. Nelson: Edinburgh
  5. Lane, A M (1980) 'Dunadd (Kilmichael and Glassary p), fort'. Disc Exc Scot 1980, 31
  6. Lane, A M (1981) 'Dunadd (Glassary p), fort'. Disc Exc Scot 1981, 30-1
  7. Lane and Campbell, A and E (2000) Dunadd: an early Dalriadic capital, Cardiff Studies in Archaeology. Oxbow: Oxford
  8. RCAHMS (1988) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 6: Mid-Argyll and Cowal, prehistoric and early historic monuments. HMSO: Edinburgh
  9. Stevenson, R B K (1949) 'The nuclear fort of Dalmahoy, Midlothian, and other Dark Age capitals'. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 83 (1948-9), 186-98
  10. Thomas, F W L (1879) 'Dunadd, Glassary, Argyllshire; the place of inauguration of the Dalriadic Kings'. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 13 (1878-9), 28-47