68 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1948-49.

VII.

DUN LAGAID FOUD HAN R OTHER PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS NEAR , ROS. D CROMARTYT . AN SS . C Y B . CALDER, A.R.I.A.S., F.S.A.ScoT., AND K. A. STEER, M.A., PH.D., F.S.A., F.S.A.ScoT. Read May 9, 1949.

In May 1947 Mrs Elizabeth Gibb visited Lagaidh on the west side of (6-inch O.S. map, XXII; National Grid Ref. 28/143914), and subsequently informed the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of that the remains consisted of a enclosed withi ramparte nth vitrifiea f so d fort. Sinc vitrifieo en d previouslford ha t y been recorde e westh tn do coas f Scotlano t d nort f Locho he Alsh,th d 1an distributio sucf no h fortbeed ha sn though "strictle b o t y complementary to, and mutually exclusive with, that of the brochs," a this discovery, if established, was of outstanding importance.3 On behalf of the Commission, a survey of the remains was accordingly made by the joint authors in the following October, -with the results detailed below. At the same time opportunit takes wa yvisio nt t four other prehistoric monumente th n i s vicinit Ullapoolf yo noted thesan ,n sthereforo e ear e include thin di s paper. The whole is now published by the Commission's authority. Commission'e Th Gibbs Mr , o whost se thankdu e e observationar s d an s deduction Lagaidn Du t a hs were fully confirme e surveyo t th d y b dan , Eckford. A Geologica e . J th M . f ro R , l Surve Greaf yo t Britain informar fo , - e buildinth tio n no Ruign a g n stoneh Du Lagaid n t sa useDu d t da han Ruadh. ,

. I VITRIFIED BROCHFOR D LAGAIDN AN T DU , H. 1) (fig , 1 . About two miles S.E. of Ullapool a wedge-shaped tongue of land juts out 300 yards into Loch Broom from its western shore. For the most part, this tongue consists of a raised beach, now arable; but 200 yards inland a hog- backed ridg f Moineo e schist, measuring som yard0 e40 s from eas weso t t t yard0 by10 s from nort southo ht , rise flae s th abruptlt f grouno t ou yo dt a maximum height of 80 feet above its base. The sides of the ridge are everywhere steep, and are precipitous in places: its top is uneven, and is 1 Childe, Scotland Before Scots,e th Appendi. xXI 2 Proc. Prehist. Soc., vol. xiii. (1947). 16 . p , 3 For another vitrified fort, discovered shortly afterwards in the same region (Gair Loch), see Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot., vol. Ixxxi . 182p . .

LAGAIDDUN OTHEHAND R PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS69 . lightly clothed with grass and bracken, interspersed with small clusters of stunted oak, hazel and rowan. On a small knoll which crowns the ridge, 80 yards from its west end, stands the ruin known as Dun Lagaidh (fig. 2). To-da structure yth e appears simpl roughla s ya y circular, crater-shaped hea f stonespo , abou fee 0 diameten 9 ti t fee8 td rime y higB th an r .t ha clearing awa surface yth e stones, however quickle w , y reveale segmento dtw s

Fig . Prehistori1 . c Monuments near Ullapool showinp ma : g sites.

of outer face on the south-east and west sides at a height of possibly 10 feet abov foundationse eth curvature th : facee th t thesf sa e o e points indicateda circular building wit externan ha l diamete approximatelf ro feet0 y6 . Owing to the amount of debris choking the interior, no inner face could be detected; but a fragment of rough walling on the west side, the joints of which show trace limf so e mortar represeny ma , modera t n rebuil thif do s face whicn i , h cas originae eth l wall woul aboue db fee2 1 tt thic t thika s pointshape Th e. e structure th d sizs stronf it an o e d gan , position, dominatin aren ga f o a cultivable land and within easy reach of a good anchorage, clearly identify it as a broch. Since the amount of debris is sufficient to conceal the entrance, the foot of the stair, and perhaps chambers, it would certainly repay excavation. 70 PROCEEDING SE SOCIETYOTH F , 1948-49.

broce Th encloses hi d withi wastee nth d remain vitrifiea f so d fort which occupieridge measured th f ean o wes e d sth en t s internall fee 0 lengtn i yt30 h

SECTIOF E- N

iif /

Pig . Du2 . n Lagaidh: plasectionsd nan . by about 120 feet in maximum width. On three sides the defences of this fort appear havo st e comprised onl ysingla e wall, drawn roun irregulae dth r rocky edge of the summit area, but on the more vulnerable fourth, or east, DUN LAGAIDH AND OTHER PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS. 71

side a medial and an outer have been added to give extra protectio entrancee presene th th o nt t A t. tim mai e traco th en nf eo wal l survives on either the north or south sides, but at the west end it is repre- moun basw e sente lo whicth f eo a t d a y dhb three short length outef so r face are visible standing to a maximum height of 2 feet 9 inches above the turf. The dimensions of the mound indicate a wall thickness of 12—13 feet. The facing-stone three th et t fused a widel t no e bu , sar y separated points marked on the plan vitrifaction can be seen in the exposed soil. Samples of the facing-stones, and of the vitrified material, have been identified by Mr Eckford as Torridon Sandstone, patches of which occur in the local Moine schist. At the east end both ramparts are reduced to low mounds, while the southern half of the inner rampart has totally disappeared: the ditch, some 10 feet wide almoss i , t completel unexcavaten yA silte . dup d rock traverse centre ditcie nth th f heo presumably represent entrancee sth , sinc otheo en r convenient accesinterioe th o st availables i r , althoug traverse hth onls ei y 3 feet 6 inches wide and is partly obstructed by the tail of a rock outcrop. Vitrifactio agais ni n presenplaceexposeo e th tw n t si a t dinnee corth f reo rampart, north of the entrance, and also in the fragment of outer rampart, entrancesoute e lyinth th f ho go t , which curves outwards fro ditce mth n hi a curious manner to end against the outcrop referred to above. From examination of the superficial remains it is clear, therefore, that a substantial part, if not the whole, of the fort defences contains vitrified matter, which s Professoa , r Wallac M Child d ean e Thorneycrofb have shown,1 results fro combustioe mth wooe wala th f n dni o l compose stonf do e and timber after the fashion of a murus gallicus. As far as is known this type of construction was never used for the external defences of brochs whic buile har t eithee b f stone brocd for o ry th an r earth,t eo d hma an

regarded, therefore, 2 as the separate works of two peoples. Although the relative dates are not evident from the plan, since neither work impinges upo hardlothere n nth ca doubtede t yi ,b , fro mcomparisoa state th f f eo no the remains, that the broch is the later of the two. The denuded condition of the fort walls, in marked contrast to the substantial debris of the broch, coupled wit face hth t tha e brocth t h masonr alss yi o Torridon Sandstone, can only mean that the fort has served as a quarry for the broch builders. This conclusio t prejudiceno e apparens i nth y b d t absenc f vitrifieo e d material in the broch debris, since the broch builders would presumably select only unfused facing-stones; othee th n r o hand t derivei , s support froo mtw stony mounds, representing ruined walls, that radiate respectively from the north-west and south-east arcs of the broch debris and terminate on opposite e ridgedgeth f eo sinnee topTh r. end f theso s e wall coveree e sar th y db

broch debrist seemi d san , likely that they have bounde dcontemporara y

Proc.1 Soc. Ant. Scot., vol. Ixxii (1937-8) ff5 .4 . pp , 2 R.C.A.M., ,d an Introduction. 33 . ,p 72 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1948-49.

enclosure; while the fact that their outer ends overlie the site of the vitrified wall is proof that they are later in date than the fort.

II. BROCH, DUN AN BUIGH RXJADH, RHIBOY (fig. 1, 2). This broch is situated a quarter of a mile from the western shore of Loch Broom lowee th n ro , slope behind Carnaf san o crofte n dth t nRhiroBa a s y (6-inch O.S. map, XXII; National Grid Ref. 28/149901). It stands on the edge of a precipitous rocky bluff, some 30 feet high, and commands an extensive view alon e margie locgth th N.N.Bo ht f no d S.S.W.an . d an , eastwards acros narroe sth w stri arablf po e land that falls gently froe mth foot of the bluff to the water's edge. A constant supply of fresh water is provide hila ly db burn , All Crichea n t north-westyarde 0 8 th , o st . Roughly one-thir e brocth f he north-easo d th wals falle n ha o l nc ar t e remainin ovee blufth e edg th t th rf f eo bu (fig, g3) . two-thirds still stand a maximu o t m heigh fee7 inche9 f to t s externall fee9 inche6 td yan s internally e deptth :f masonr ho y beneat presene hth s a t e surfacb y ma e much as 4 feet. It is unlikely that the vertical cuff on the north-east has been affected to any extent by erosion since the broch was built, so that the tower will have been slightly oval on plan, measuring 65 feet over the walls from north-wes south-easo e most t th fee 6 t t5 a t fro y b mt north-easo t t south-west. The missing segment of walling must have been somewhat flatter tha wale reste nth Th l .varie s fee4 fro 1 fee t2 me o 1 thict t th t ka present ground-level, and is reduced in thickness by an internal scarcement (PI. XVI, 1) at a height of 3 feet 8 inches above the debris which chokes the interior. This scarcement projects 2—5 inches from the under face, and is foo1 inche4 t stope width . n eo Abov wale th lt ei converge s inwardn si beehive fashion, developin overhann ga foo1 inchef 5 tgo heigha n i sf o t 5 fee inches9 t t thiA s. point therhavy ema e bee nsecona d scarcement, as at , although no parallels have been found for the convergence of

the inner fac1 e immediately above the first scarcement. The outer face is vertica XVIL . (P l 2) , Withi walle nth , roun wese dth t arc gallerya , fee2 , inche3 t s widen ca , be trace levea lengta fee5 n r 4 o l td fo f approximatin ho e thath o gt f o t lower scarcement. This gallery, which still retains its lintels for a distance of 8 feet, is choked with tumbled stones, so that without excavation it is impossible to determine its height, or to ascertain whether a lower gallery or cells exist beneath it. In the south arc, however, a lower gallery, also 2 feet 3 inches wide, survives for a length of at least 12 feet. The upper courses of masonry are visible and show a closed end on the east. Near e otherth , broken endlintee on , l remain levea n o sl wit lowee hth r scarce- ment, whil esecona d lies dislodge rume th wha f havy sn o di ma te been na 1 B.C.A.M., Shetland, fig. 533. DUN LAGAIDH AND OTHER PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS. 73

opening leading from the interior of the broch to the gallery. An opening t thia s point woul suitable db y place givo dt e acces extensiostain a a o sn t ri n gaUerye westh f o t . The wall is dry-built of fairly heavy stones, mostly Moine schist, and

Fig. 3. Broch, Dun an Ruigh Ruadh, Rhiroy.

pinnings are inserted where necessary to level irregularities in the jointing. locae Th l tradition tha buildine th t gdifferena stonef o e sar t material from that vicinitfoune brochth e n th dtha i d f yo an ,t they were transported from the east side of Loch Broom "by men stationed at regular intervals upon rafts," s unfortunateli * y untenable, since outcrop f Moino s e schise ar t common on both sides of the loch. The entrance to the broch must have been situated practically on the e clif n eitheth edgi f f e norto eth rr easo h t arc. Thertraco n f s o ei e 1 Mitford, Guide to , p. 28. 74 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1948-49. any external'defences. Although sheep fanks have been built from the debris agains outee th t south-weste r th fac n eo , there doe t appeae sno b o rt immediaty an e ris furthef ko r deteriorations. i III. FORT, DUN CANNA (fig. 1, 3). The fort of Dun Canna, 4 miles north of Ullapool (6-inch O.S. map, VII; National Grid Ref. 29/112008), occupies a strong position on a rocky promontory which juts out into the sea between Camas Mor and Camas Beag. On three sides the promontory is girt with cliffs which rise abruptly north-wese onth south-easd an t heigh a fee 0 o 4 t t f abovo t high-watee eth r mark, while the neck of land connecting it with the mainland on the fourth or north-east side is reduced to a width of 37 feet by a narrow steep-sided gully opening into Camas Mor. Both Camas Mor and Camas Beag possess gently inclined shingle beache whicn o s safele hb boaty y ma shaule p u d under the lea of the promontory. The fort (fig. 4) comprises an inner enclosure, or , which occupies whollevee e th th f le o summi promontorye th f to larga d e,an outer enclosure or annex e eastpla n e citadeth O nth .o et s roughli l y rectangular with rounded angles measured an , fee 0 lengtfeen 0 i ts14 widt 3 n i t y hb h within a single massive dry-stone wall now heavily denuded and overgrown by vegetation. At the south-west end one course of the outer face of the wall is traceable for a distance of 20 feet, but elsewhere no facings can be seen, so that its width is uncertain. Except on the north-west side, where it has almost entirely disappeared, the debris varies from 10 to 18 feet thick. A gap fee6 , inche6 t s e north-easwideth t a , t end, presumably marke th s position of the original entrance. The interior is thickly carpeted with bracken- and peat-mould and contains no sign of structures. The annexe, which is of irregular shape, measures internally 140 feet from north-north- eas south-south-weso t fee5 9 t y frob t m east-south-eas west-north-westo t , excludin nece gth k that connectcitadele th o t .t i s Lik s lattee ha eth t i r been surrounde a singl y b de dry-stone wall, whose substantial character ma gaugee yb d fro face m th ease t thath t n sid o tdebrie leso eth n s s sthai n 40 feet thick at the base and up to 12 feet high above the ulterior. On first inspection only a few facing-stones were visible, but by clearing away the loose surface stones we succeeded in tracing the upper courses of both faces •as shown on the plan, revealing a wall thickness of 12—14 feet. A narrow gap through the debris in the curving north-east corner of the wall, opposite foundatione th lata f eo s cottage obviousls i , y intrusive originae th d an l; entrance to the fort is situated in a re-entrant angle on the north side, at the head of an easy approach up the side of the cliff. In the exposed wall soute faceth n hentrancee o , sidth f eo , ther rebatea s ei , three courses high and 3—4 inches deep, resembling the check of a door. On the west side of DUN LAGAID OTHED HAN R PREHISTORIC MONUMENTS5 7 . e annexth havy e waleth ma el returned southwards fro e north-wesmth t corner along the edge of a rock face at right angles to and a few feet higher

SECTIOB A- N

ORIGINAL WILLING

DCBKIS

WALLING ASSUMED UNDER OEBKIS

MODERN

C.S T.C. K.A.S.

Fig . FortCanna4 .n Du , .

than the neck, leaving only a narrow entrance leading to the citadel. The north side of the neck was, however, defended by a wall, a fragment of which can still be seen abutting the base of the transverse rocky face, while the south side may have been similarly protected. The interior of the annexe, which falls unevenly from north-east to south-west, is featureless. 76 PROCEEDING E SOCIETYTH F O S , 1948-49. IV. AN DUN, DBIENACH, STRATH KANAIRD (fig. 1, 4). An Dun, 300 yards south-east of the River Kanaird and 700 yards due east of Drienach (6-inch O.S. map, VIII; National Grid Ref. 29/166019), occupies the flat-topped summit of a rocky knoll lying in the angle formed confluencbe yth burnso tw f e,o All Feitha tn e Riabhaic Alld Easachn han ta . The site commands a wide view eastwards up the valley of the first-named bur westwardd nan s along Strath Kanaird leves i t i l t wit groune bu , hth o dt the north and on the south is overlooked by a high range of hills. The north and east sides of the knoll are precipitous and some 70 feet high, while the west side is steeply inclined: thus the only easy approach to the dun is by a more gradual slope on the south, where a gap in the debris of the wall probably represent entrancee sitth e f sth eo . Owine wasteth o gt d conditio e remainth f no usefuo n s e lb plan nca made without excavation. Superficial indications, however, suggest that the structure was shaped like a squat letter D with rounded corners, the west side formin uprighe gth t stroke thad t an ,measurei t d abou fee4 3 tt from east to west by 32 feet from north to south within a wall some 14 feet thick. At the north-west corner a short segment of the outer face of the wall is visible, a few courses high, behind which two slabs, embedded in the indicatsoily ma , presence eth chambera f eo . Another stretc same th f eho face fee 0 straighe 1 ,seet e th longb n nn o t,ca west side, rising wit hbattea f ro foo1 inche6 t heigha approximatel s feei o 6 s t inches f p 6 to tto s it : y level wit presene hth t ground surfac interiore builth s i n largef i t I o t . e blockf so local freestone levelled and jointed with pinnings. Elsewhere the walling eithes ha r disappeared ove precipicee th r heaa lier s o n debri f e si p o th n so upper slopes of the knoll: natural erosion has no doubt been accelerated by stone-robbing to build a late cottage and a dyke at the foot of the approach southprobablee s oi nth t I . , however, tha foundatione tth e flood th f san o r structure are still intact and that it would repay excavation.

V. "PICTISH TOWER," LECKMELM (fig. 1, 5). The O.S markp a ."Pictise sitma f sth eo h Tower" betwee hige nth h righ te All banth tf ko Rao n a' e side-roaChroisth d gan d leadine th o gt schoolhouse at Leckmelm (6-inch O.S. map, XXII; National Grid Ref. 28/170901). There is now no trace of this structure, and the oldest local inhabitan neved ha t r hearexistences it f do .