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Survey and Excavation at Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll | 165 Proc Soc Antiq Scot 140 (2010), 165–178SURVEY AND EXCAVATION AT DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE, ARGYLL | 165 Survey and excavation at Dunstaffnage Castle, Argyll Colin Breen*, Wes Forsythe†, John Raven* and Daniel Rhodes‡ ABSTRACT Recent investigations at Dunstaffnage, partially funded by Historic Scotland, have provided additional information regarding the castle’s constructional history. Excavations have identified features associated with its initial construction in the 13th century and subsequent refurbishment episodes over the following centuries. Additionally, two medieval lime kilns have been located outside of the castle walls associated with these developments. In the 18th century extensive landscaping took place in the immediate environs of the castle as part of the ‘improvement’ and redevelopment of the site. INTRODUCTION the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Ulster undertook an integrated Dunstaffnage Castle stands as an imposing landscape survey of the environs of the castle presence on the shores of Argyll overlooking and adjacent 13th-century chapel, as part of the Firth of Lorn, Loch Etive and the eastern a broader research project investigating the entrance to the Sound of Mull (illus 1). archaeology of Gaelic lordship in Ulster and Originally constructed in the 13th century, it Scotland. This project was partially funded by played a pivotal role in the political and social Historic Scotland. Work undertaken included life of the region throughout the medieval extensive marine and terrestrial geophysical period and into the 18th century. The castle investigations coupled with conventional site has been the subject of historical analysis archaeological landscape survey. During the (Simpson 1958; Millar 1963; Grove 2004) course of this work a number of features came and intensive architectural survey by the to light which warranted further investigation. RCAHMS (1975). A number of excavations Funding was subsequently secured from have also taken place at the castle over the Historic Scotland to conduct limited test past 30 years which have contributed much trenching across the site and in 2008 five to our understanding of the site (Lewis 1996; small test trenches were excavated in order Radley 2000; Stewart 2004). However, much to elucidate information on the surviving less is known about the site’s immediate stratigraphy around the castle and aid both the environs and broader hinterland, as is the case site’s interpretation and future management with most castles across Scotland. In 2007 (Breen 2008). * School of Environmental Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA † Historic Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Road, Edinburgh EH9 1SH ‡ The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh EH11 4DF 166 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 2010 N SCOTLAND Mull Dunstaffnage orn Firth of L Jura Dunstaffnage Islay Kintyre 0 50 km Eilean Mr Castle Chapel Dunstaffnage Bay 0 500 m Illus 1 Location of Dunstaffnage Castle SURVEY AND EXCAVATION AT DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE, ARGYLL | 167 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND potentially supported the presence of a beach market but such an assertion requires further The origins of Dunstaffnage are obscure. study. These activities often accompanied Place-name and antiquarian evidence suggest inauguration ceremonies so this may further it was probably the site of an early medieval corroborate an association with inauguration dun, possibly one of the central places at this site. Nevertheless, the evidence for associated with the Dalriadic sub-kingdom early medieval occupation at Dunstaffnage of Loairn. Use in this period may have remains circumstantial and little direct included an association with the inauguration evidence from this period has so far been of the head of the Cenél Loairn. Certainly the recovered. ‘staff’ in the place-name has connotations The peninsula is now dominated by the of the rod of authority associated with the substantial ruins of Dunstaffnage Castle, Gaelic chiefly inauguration rituals. Tradition originally constructed under the patronage of also records that the Stone of Destiny was the Clann Dhubghaill/Clan MacDougall of held for a period at the site (Simpson 1958). Argyll. Over the 14th century, the castle fell While this is tentative, the potential linkage in to the hands of the Clann MacCailein Mór/ of the site with chiefly ascension may lend Clan Campbell, who continued to embellish credence to this association. The discovery it through the following centuries. The date of Viking ring copper nearby (S Webb of the original construction of the castle pers comm) may suggest a fair or trading remains obscure. The first historical records site here. The topography could also have of a castle here occur during the first decade Illus 2 Photograph of the south-west elevation of Dunstaffnage Castle and the excavation of Trench 4 168 | SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND, 2010 of the 14th century, when it was besieged by possibly included a donjon and reflected Robert the Bruce – the MacDougalls having up-to-date thinking on the fashions in castle put their weight behind the Comyn family’s architecture. Duncan’s son, Ewen McDougall support for John Balliol’s claim to the crown of Lorn, inherited the lordship in 1240s (see McDonald 1997: 175–80). However, and became effective ruler of the Isles. He there appears to be at least two phases of was recorded as being in dispute with King major architectural building at the castle Alexander in the late 1240s, leading to a prior to this. Archaeological excavation has royal invasion of Argyll in 1249. Alexander continued to struggle to provide sufficient II demanded that Ewen surrender ‘Biarnaborg evidence to date either of these phases and . and three other castles, which he held of dating has had to depend on comparative King Haakon’, one of which has consistently architectural analysis and historical been interpreted as Dunstaffnage (Duncan & association. Brown 1957: 208). Despite this episode Ewen In its initial phase, Dunstaffnage seems was again in allegiance with the King by the to have been a relatively simple polygonal- 1260s. He now became his chief representative enclosure castle. There has been considerable in Argyll, Kintyre and Lorn. The Norwegian discussion on the date of similar castles in King Haakon led an expedition into the area Western Scotland and Ulster (Oram & Stell by 1263 but Ewen remained loyal to the 2005), with one strand of the debate focusing Scottish king. Haakon was defeated at Largs on an early 13th-century date. A number of and three years later, in 1266, following the lancet windows and arrow-slits are visible Treaty of Perth, the region became part of within the surviving curtain wall and are Scotland (for a fuller discussion of the western also indicative of an early construction date seaboard’s social and political context see (illus 2). McDonald 1997; Sellar 2000; Fisher 2005). Duncan MacDougall, the head of the Alexander MacDougall subsequently married lineage, established Ardchattan Priory around the daughter of John Comyn of Badenoch, 1230. Whilst he was likely to have had other creating a political match between the two castles and seats in Argyll, especially around families. Whilst Fisher (2005: 89) suggested Loch Awe, it seems highly unlikely that he the second phase of construction and change would have patronised a new ecclesiastical occurred under Ewen’s direction between centre on Loch Etive without developing 1249–63 during the crisis over sovereignty of a secular powerbase in the area at the same the Kingdom of the Isles (also see Tabraham time. If Dunstaffange was built in the 1220s 1997: 36), this second phase could equally be or 1230s, this would place it within the attributed to Alexander who was then secure context of a wider campaign of architectural in his possession under the Scottish Crown. building as the MacDougalls consolidated The time and resources needed to build the their rise to prominence amongst other hall and towers and the willingness to weaken competing branches of the Clann Somhairle/ the castle during building may point to a safer Clan MacSorley. While the castle was political, economic and social context for probably built early in the century, a number construction. of alterations were carried out throughout In 1296, the Earl of Menteith was ordered the century. A great hall was added and the by Edward I to take all of the castles, corners of the enclosure were demolished fortifications, islands and lands of Alexander and replaced by a number of towers. These de Ergadia, son of Ewen, presumably SURVEY AND EXCAVATION AT DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE, ARGYLL | 169 including both Dunstaffnage and Dunollie to have had either the resources or political (Simpson 1958: 25). In 1308, Bruce targeted will to refortify this monument given that the Argyll and Lorn; John of Lorn, son of Campbell’s took some time to fully establish Alexander, reported to Edward II in 1308/09 themselves in Lorn (see Boardman 2000 and that he was guarding three castles, presumably 2006). Dunstaffnage, Dunollie and Inchconnel, and Subsequent to this, internally, a 16th- a Loch (Loch Awe?) with a fleet of galleys century tower house was added, while later against Bruce’s approach. Bruce laid siege in the 18th century (1725) a new house was to Dunstaffnage and overcame it after a short built against the north-west range. Between siege while John escaped to the English court. 1850 and 1863 the current stone steps By 1310, the castle was in the possession of leading to the gatehouse external entrance King Robert. About 1321, the constabulary were built (Simpson 1958: 23). The castle lands at Dunstaffnage were granted to Arthur complex was subsequently ‘restored’ at the Campbell and the castle afterwards became a beginning of the 20th century and is currently Campbell possession with Earl Colin Campbell in state care. (Earl of Argyll from 1457/58) adding a new Whilst we have documentary evidence gatehouse at the castle (Boardman 2005: 158).
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