The Hillfort Of Dunadd
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Beware
- Large photographs! be patient (unless you have broadband.)
Occupation of Dunadd
The fort at Dunadd is one of several rocky hillforts used by the Scots of Dalriada. It was occupied from as early as 500AD, according to archaeologists. It was strongly fortified, with four lines of walls on different levels. Dunadd was a citadel, an important fortified town that might have had Royal connections. The walls were made of stone, and probably had timber pallisades and a wooden gate. The remains of the walls can still be seen on the lower terrace. These would have been the first line of defence for the inhabitants. The pictures below show a view of the first terrace, on the left, and the same wiew with an impression of the wall, on the right.
The fort at Dunadd is one of several rocky hillforts used by the Scots of Dalriada. It was occupied from as early as 500AD, according to archaeologists. It was strongly fortified, with four lines of walls on different levels. Dunadd was a citadel, an important fortified town that might have had Royal connections. The walls were made of stone, and probably had timber pallisades and a wooden gate. The remains of the walls can still be seen on the lower terrace. These would have been the first line of defence for the inhabitants. The pictures below show a view of the first terrace, on the left, and the same wiew with an impression of the wall, on the right.
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There was a second smaller enclosed
terrace above this one, probably where the area of long grass is to the
right of the above photographs. in here would have been more small huts.
The third wall enclosed the summit of the hill, with a narrow U shaped wall
off to the side, perhaps protecting the approach to the summit. That is the
impression gicen by the information board at the foot of the hill, in the
cap park. The only evidence for the wall that can be seen with your own eyes
is in the lower terrace, which the next photograph shows.
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So it has been shown that the Scots
built plenty of walls around their citadel, but they also had other defences.
It is always a good idea to build a fortification up high, and Dunadd is
certainly high. It has a good view of the surrounding area. Most of the slopes
of the hill are steep and rocky, which would make them dangerous to climb,
especially when wet. In the Dark Ages, a lot of the land around Dunadd was
marshy, so that would make approaching the fort from certain directions slow
going, if not impossible. Dunadd was a strong position, although there is
documentary evidence that it had been under seige at several points in history,
in 683 AD and again in 736 AD by Angus, King of the Picts, during his
conquest of the district. These are the only two times that Dunadd is mentioned
by writers from those times, because very few books or records from the Dark
Ages have survived to the present day, for various reasons, throughout all
of Britain, not just Dalriada.
Traditionally Dunadd is known as the capital of Dalriada, although Historians believe that it might not have been, but they do admit it is 'high status' which means very important. Unlike in Medieval times - where the king and his court stayed in the one castle most of the time, in the years after the Romans left, tribal kings had several hillforts, and would spend time staying at each one during the year. So it is possible that Dunadd has a claim to being the capital of Dalriada, but no more or less than the other hillforts in the area - Dunollie (in Oban); Aberte (Dunavety); and Tairpirt Boittir (the location of which is a mystery). However, there are a few unusual features in Dunadd. The first of which is the Footprint. There are actually two of them. One is deeply cut into the stone, while the second is more shallow. it is believed that the Footprint played some part in the inauguaration of the Kings of Dalriada. There is also a bowl shape carved in another rock nearby, the reason for this is not known. It may be a Bronze Age cup mark. Close by there can be found an inscription in the Ogham alphabet, and a carving of a boar. (A copy of the boar is displayed in the garden of the cottage beside the path up the hill.) Below are photographs of the Footptint and cup mark.
Traditionally Dunadd is known as the capital of Dalriada, although Historians believe that it might not have been, but they do admit it is 'high status' which means very important. Unlike in Medieval times - where the king and his court stayed in the one castle most of the time, in the years after the Romans left, tribal kings had several hillforts, and would spend time staying at each one during the year. So it is possible that Dunadd has a claim to being the capital of Dalriada, but no more or less than the other hillforts in the area - Dunollie (in Oban); Aberte (Dunavety); and Tairpirt Boittir (the location of which is a mystery). However, there are a few unusual features in Dunadd. The first of which is the Footprint. There are actually two of them. One is deeply cut into the stone, while the second is more shallow. it is believed that the Footprint played some part in the inauguaration of the Kings of Dalriada. There is also a bowl shape carved in another rock nearby, the reason for this is not known. It may be a Bronze Age cup mark. Close by there can be found an inscription in the Ogham alphabet, and a carving of a boar. (A copy of the boar is displayed in the garden of the cottage beside the path up the hill.) Below are photographs of the Footptint and cup mark.
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Life At Dunadd
What little is known about the lives of the inhabitants of Dunadd comes from archaeological finds made in 1903 and in 1980-81. They have shown that Dunadd was a centre for trade with other countries. Some of the items found included:
What little is known about the lives of the inhabitants of Dunadd comes from archaeological finds made in 1903 and in 1980-81. They have shown that Dunadd was a centre for trade with other countries. Some of the items found included:
- Rotary querns (for grinding corn)
- Pottery, include the largest amount of 'Type E' French pottery found in Britain
- An Iron- hafted saw
- Bracelets
- Beads
- Weapons
- A Bronze Anglo-Saxon mount
- Parts of Anglo-Saxon brooches, including a gold stud
- A quern carved with an Iona cross
- A stone inscribed in Latin
- Evidence for metalwork and ironwork
- A piece of Orpiment, a mineral used to make bright yellow colouring used in making illuminated manuscripts, found in Italy and Tukey
- Plant remains of wheat, barley, oats and hazelnuts.
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The plaque
near the summit of Dunadd
Some Information for this page was found in pages 86 and
87 of:
The Picts and the Scots,
Lloyd and Jenny Laing;
Sutton Publishing;
ISBN 0-7509-2873-5
The Picts and the Scots,
Lloyd and Jenny Laing;
Sutton Publishing;
ISBN 0-7509-2873-5