Description

The monument comprises a fort of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding earthworks.

The monument occupies the summit of a rocky knoll at about 30m OD. It is situated within an extensive tract of broken country, characterised by numerous granite knolls and ridges separated by fairly level, and often boggy, patches of ground. The flanks of the knoll are sheer rock-faces, up to 15m high, although the approach from the NW and SE ends is relatively easy.

The fort is defended by a single wall which encloses an internal area measuring some 50m N-S by up to 40m transversely. This wall has been built up to 6m below the general level of the summit in order to enclose a large enough area.

For much of its circuit the wall is built on bare rock, and at numerous points the actual rock has been incorporated into the structure. As a result the wall follows an irregular course to suit the configuration of the knoll.

Considerable stretches of outer facing-stones survive, usually only the lowest course, but for a short distance near the entrance, on the SSE, five courses remain standing to a height of 0.9m.

By contrast only two inner facing-stones can be seen, suggesting that the wall was about 2.5m wide on average. On the NW several exceptionally large boulders have been included in the heavy rubble core-material. The entrance is 0.9m wide and is well marked, with the NE side-wall of the passage standing about 0.9m high in three courses.

The interior is very uneven, with much of the space taken up by sheets of bare rock or by rock-bosses; the largest of the latter, situated in the NW quarter, rises about 2.4m above the remainder. Forts of this type are characteristic of the Iron Age (around 500 BC - AD 500).

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is sub-rounded in shape, with maximum dimensions of 93m NW-SE by 86m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric defended settlement 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 NM32SW 12.

References:

RCAHMS (1980) ARGYLL: AN INVENTORY OF THE MONUMENTS VOLUME 3: MULL, TIREE, COLL AND NORTHERN ARGYLL (EXCLUDING THE EARLY MEDIEVAL AND LATER MONUMENTS OF IONA), Edinburgh, 85, No. 153.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland