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Mither Tap of Bennachie

Aberdeenshire, Scotland · Atlas SC2961

Mither Tap of Bennachie is a contour fort in Oyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Other names on the record: Mither Tap o' Bennachie.

It is recorded as extant, with a partial univallate and partial multivallate rampart form, surface evidence of stone wall and wall-walk, and an enclosed area of 0.67 hectares.

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

The topographic record places it on a hilltop and at 518 m.

The aspect is recorded as level.

Recorded land use includes pasture and heather moorland.

Dating evidence is recorded for AD 400–800 (C14).

A scheduled monument number is recorded (2114).

Location

Atlas number
SC2961 (2961)
Country
Scotland
Current county or unitary authority
Aberdeenshire
Historic county
Aberdeenshire
Parish, community, or townland
Oyne
National Grid reference
NJ 6825 2240
Latitude
57.29117
Longitude
-2.52839
Altitude
518 m

Form and condition

Type
contour fort
Condition
Extant
Morphology
partial univallate and partial multivallate
Complete rampart circuit
Yes
Number of ramparts
3
Ramparts by quadrant
NE 1, SE 3, SW 1, NW 1
Possible original entrances
3
Breaks through the ramparts
3
Enclosed area
0.67 ha
Footprint
1.3 ha
Enclosing works, as visible
stone wall and wall-walk
Also recorded
multi-period enclosure system
Entrance forms
Simple Gap (East); Simple Gap (South east); Simple Gap (South west)

Landscape

Topographic position
hilltop
Aspect
level
Land use
pasture and heather moorland

Dating

Dating
AD 400–800 and undated
Dating evidence
C14
Dating reliability
D - None

Interior and investigation

Investigations
1st Identified Written Reference (1726); Other (1840); 1st Identified Map Depiction (1867); Earthwork Survey (1876); Other (1943); Other (1962); Other (1973); Other (1977); Other (1981); Earthwork Survey (1996); Excavation (2006); Other (2008)

Identifiers

Scheduled monument number
2114
HER
Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record NJ62SE0001
National record
record NJ 62 SE 1; monument 85507
Wikidata
Q31084668

Sources

References

  1. Atkinson, D (2007) 'Mither Tap, Bennachie, Aberdeenshire (Oyne parish), watching brief, radiocarbon dating'. Disc Exc Scot, New Ser, 8 (2007), 28
  2. Feachem, R (1963) A guide to prehistoric Scotland. Batsford: London (p 104-5)
  3. Gordon, A (1726) Itinerarium Septentrionale: or A Journey Thro most of the Counties of Scotland And Those in the North of England. London
  4. Halliday, S P (2007) The later prehistoric landscape. In RCAHMS (2007) In the Shadow of Bennachie: A Field Archaeology of Donside, Aberdeenshire. RCAHMS & Society of Antiquaries of Scotland: Edinburgh
  5. Maclagan, C (1881) 'Benachie, ancient fortress', Chips from old stones
  6. Name Book, Ordnance Survey Object Name Books (6 inch and 1/2500 scale); available http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/
  7. Simpson, W D (1943) The Province of Mar, being the Rhind Lectures. Aberdeen University Studies, Aberdeen