Description

The monument comprises the remains of a dun, a type of fort, dating from the Iron Age (800BC-400AD). The dun is visible as a thick D-shaped drystone wall with and entrance to the east. It is located on a coastal promontory overlooking the Sound of Kerrera, at approximately 2m above sea level. 

The dun measures 24m north to south by 20m and survives as a drystone wall up to 1.8m high and ranging from approximately 2m wide on the south-southeast to 4m either side of the entrance which is 1.5m wide and located in the east-northeast. Stretches of the inner and outer wall face are visible along with an internal revetment. 

The scheduled area is irregular. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past as the remains of a dun, a type of fort, dating from the Iron Age (800BC-400AD) which retains structural and other physical attributes such as a thick drystone wall with surviving inner and outer faces, internal revetment and entrance. There is the potential for the monument to have multiple phases of occupation which is supported by dating evidence from comparable sites such as Dun Ardtrek (scheduled monument SM7120). Excavation of similar monuments have shown that there is the potential for undisturbed archaeological deposits to survive, along with traces of internal structures, artefacts, environmental remains and material for radiocarbon dating. This can help us to date the monument more closely and tell us about the lifestyle of the occupants, including their daily activities, dress and diet as well as the local economy.

Duns are a broad monument type and are widespread across Scotland. The National Record of the Historic Environment records over 1700 entries for duns. Due to its meaning of 'fort' in Scots Gaelic the word 'dun' appears in the name of many settlement types such as brochs and forts. The monument is a good example of a dun and is therefore an important representative example of this monument type. The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement in northwest Scotland during the Iron Age. The monument makes a significant contribution to today's landscape and our understanding of the prehistoric landscape. There is the potential to study the monument in relation to other broadly contemporary forts in the immediate area such as Dun an Fheurain, Dun 700m NW of Gallanach (scheduled monument SM4177; 610m NNE), Dun Ormidale, Fort 345m NNE Of Gallanach (scheduled monument SM4182; 690m NE) and Upper Gylen, Fort 700m ENE of, Kerrera (scheduled monument SM4210; 1.3km NW) on a local and national scale to contribute to a better understanding of their distribution and chronology, their role in society, exploitation of natural resources and landforms, changing settlement patterns, and maritime trade. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/22948/

HER/SMR Reference

https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=1138

Source: Historic Environment Scotland