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An Sean Chaisteal, broch

A Scheduled Monument in Oban South and the Isles, Argyll and Bute

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.577 / 56°34'37"N

Longitude: -5.9891 / 5°59'20"W

OS Eastings: 155095

OS Northings: 749905

OS Grid: NM550499

Mapcode National: GBR CCLB.HGR

Mapcode Global: WGZD6.ZY6D

Entry Name: An Sean Chaisteal, broch

Scheduled Date: 30 January 2003

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM10568

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: broch

Location: Kilninian and Kilmore

County: Argyll and Bute

Electoral Ward: Oban South and the Isles

Traditional County: Argyllshire

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a broch, which is a stone-built defensive tower characteristic of the Iron Age (around 500 BC to AD 500). The broch is visible as upstanding structural remains.

The monument lies some 670m NNE of Ardnacross farmhouse, overlooking the Sound of Mull. It stands on the brink of a rocky cliff 7m high, which borders the shoreline about 80m to the E. From all other directions the approach to the broch is over almost level ground.

The broch appears as a large circular mound of stones. It stands about 2m high around its perimeter and has a slightly hollowed centre. A sufficient number of facing stones are exposed to establish that the broch is circular on plan, with a wall at least 4m thick enclosing a central court about 10.7m in diameter. The entrance is situated to the NW and is choked with debris, including what appear to be fallen lintel stones; it is checked for a door.

Traces of intramural structures can be seen on the NNE and S, but in the absence of excavation it is not possible to determine their precise size or function. To the N of the broch a thin scatter of stony debris, which extends for some 17m to the SW along a natural scarp from the crest of the cliff on the E, appears to represent the remains of a defensive outwork, probably a wall, designed to provide extra protection for the broch entrance.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is an elongated oval in shape with maximum dimensions of 75m NNW-SSE and 39m ENE-WSW, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric defended settlement, architecture and economy. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM 54 NE 4.

Photographic Bibliography:

RCAHMS 1976 Ref: 7783.

Bibliography:

RCAHMS (1980) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. 'Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 3: Mull, Tiree, Coll and Northern Argyll (excluding the early medieval and later monuments of Iona)'. Edinburgh, 90-1, No. 165.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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