Earthwork record MAB43957 - DUNNIDEER HILLFORT

Substantial vitrified hillfort with outer works, which in turn are surrounded by an incomplete trivallate system of defences.

Substantial vitrified hillfort with outer works, which in turn are surrounded by an incomplete trivallate system of defences. The summit defences consist of two stone walls, the outer a low stony bank, best seen in the north and east, and absent on the south and southwest flank. The inner wall represents the highly vitrified fort, an oblong enclosure circa 65 m by 25 m, with a contemporary cistern near the west end. Slight traces of outer works appear as a ruinous stony bank. The outer-most line of the trivallate defences is represented only by the remains of a marker trench seen as a slight terrace and situated well down the hill enclosing an area of circa 289 m x 182 m. Gaps for entrances have been left in the east and west. The remains must represent at least two main structural phases, but no evidence exists to indicate whether the vitrified fort preceded the unfinished outworks or vice versa. In October 2005, the vegetation on the south slopes of Dunnideer Hill, was accidentally set alight and pottery sherds were subsequently found by Aberdeenshire Council Archaeology Service within the exposed soil in the burnt area. Historic Scotland commissioned CFA to carry out an assessment of the extent and severity of the damage caused to archaeological resources by the fire itself and the remedial measures undertaken to limit the extent of the fire. The assessment included fieldwalking and metal-detecting of the affected area to recover exposed artefacts, photographic and mapping of newly exposed and previously known features, and limited test-pitting to consider vertical damage to sediments. The survey recorded a number of additional scoops or platforms, and further detail to features previously masked by vegetation. The report concluded that most of the burning presented a low level of threat to archaeological remains, in that the burning was relatively superficial and had not penetrated to archaeological levels, but that regeneration of vegetation required careful management to avoid damage to archaeological features. In July 2008, the Hillforts of Strathdon Project led by Murray Cook carried out an evaluation at the site. One trench was opened, revealing evidence which seemed to show that the rampart had been levelled during the medieval period. Charcoal and artefacts were also recovered. Samples taken in 2010 for archaeomagnetic dating indicate a date for the vitrification of circa 550-250 BC. The remains of a tower house, possibly the earliest example in Scotland, are located on the summit of the hillfort within the ramparts (NJ62NW0043).

Period Notes
Initial indications from archaeomagnetic dating of vitrified ramparts c. 606-257 BC at a 2 sigma range. A piece of hazel charcoal from C1004 was radiocarbon dated (at 2 sigma) to 370–160 cal bc, while a second piece of charcoal from C1003 was dated (at 2 sigma) to 383 BC – 196 BC.They do not date the destruction of the fort but rather the point at which the wood source of the charcoal was chopped down; thus they predate the firing of the fort. However, it is likely that the hazel was cropped within 10 years of its combustion (Anne Crone pers comm) and may be considered as a terminus post quem for the destruction of the ramparts. Radiocarbon date: Two dates were obtained from the base of the collapsed rampart: SUERC-22161 2180 +/- 30 BP (which equals 366 BC - 166 BC at 2 sigma) and SUERC-28730 (GU-21234) from charcoal C 1003 charcoal (Corylus) (which equals 383 BC - 196 BC at 2 sigma).

AAS/88/06/CT1, AAS/88/06/CT1 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19851.

LAING, A, 1828, DONEAN TOURIST, 245 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1049.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No41(1887) 55 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

FRASER, GM, 1927, DUNNIDEER & ITS THREE FORTS (Bibliographic reference). SAB518.

SIMPSON, WD, 1935, PSAS 69(1934-5) 460-71, 460-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1664.

GILES, J, 1936, DRAWINGS OF ABERDEEN CASTLES (Bibliographic reference). SAB587.

SIMPSON, WD, 1941, PSAS 75(1940-41) 115-122, 116 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1835.

SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 131 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.

COTTON, MA, 1954, ARCH JOURNAL III, 82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB259.

CRUDEN, SH, 1960, THE SCOTTISH CASTLE , 126-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB247.

MOW, 1961, A M'S SCOT, 131 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1166.

FEACHEM, RW, 1963, PREHISTORIC SCOTLAND, 105 (Bibliographic reference). SAB503.

FEACHEM, RW, 1966, IRON AGE IN NORTHERN BRITAIN, 69 (Bibliographic reference). SAB504.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1979, EARLY GRAMPIAN, 23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1636.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1985, BASG, 1985 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1639.

SHEPHERD, IAG, 1988, THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY SUMMER CONFERENCE 1988: ABERDEEN AND NORTH EAST SCOTLAND, 20-21 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1744.

SHEPHERD, I, 1996, ABERDEEN AND NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND (2ND ED), p.144 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4829.

Badger, S, 2006, Dunnideer Hill Arch Assessment of Fire Damage (Bibliographic reference). SAB2265.

BADGER, S, 2007, DES VOL7, 2006, p.18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3713.

Fire assessment

AOC, 2008, HILLFORTS OF STRATHDON PHASE 2: DSR (Bibliographic reference). SAB3489.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p.23 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

ABERDEENSHIRE COUNCIL, 2010, A LAD O'PAIRTS: A DAY CONFERENCE IN MEMORY OF IAIN SHEPHERD, pp62-65 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8471.

HARRIS & HUNTER, 2010, DUNNIDEER HILLFORT, INSCH, ABERDEENSHIRE:ARCHAEOMAGNETIC DATING OF THE VITRIFIED REMAINS. (Bibliographic reference). SAB4360.

COOK, MURRAY, 2011, NEW LIGHT ON OBLONG FORTS: EXCAVATIONS AT DUNNIDEER FORT (Bibliographic reference). SAB5299.

COOK, M, 2013, OPEN OR ENCLOSED: SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AND HILLFORT CONSTRUCTION IN STRATHDON, 1800BC - AD1000 IN PPS 79, PP327-352, PPS 79, 327-352 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6619.

Aug 3 2018 , AAS-GR-18-08-031 - 037, AAS-GR-18-08-031 - 037 (Ground Photograph). SAB35437.

Aug 10 1977 , AAS/77/03/SC/15, AAS/77/03/SC/15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12392.

Aug 22 1978 , AAS/78/9/CT5,10,16,22,46, AAS/78/9/CT5,10,16,22,46 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18803.

Aug 23 1990 , KO 17-18, KO 17-18 (Ground Photograph). SAB33826.

Aug 30 2006 , AAS/06/3/DG642, AAS/06/3/DG642 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18773.

Feb 8 1994 , AAS/94/02/G4/9-13, AAS/94/02/G4/9-13 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14961.

Jan 1 1978 , AAS/GR/78/CT117,123,128, AAS/GR/78/CT117,123,128 (Ground Photograph). SAB33065.

Jan 24 2000 , AAS/00/02/CT21-9, AAS/00/02/CT21-9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12239.

Jan 24 2000 , AAS/00/02/G2/14-5, AAS/00/02/G2/14-5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12238.

Jul 1 1996 , AAS/GR/96/CT175-178, AAS/GR/96/CT175-178 (Ground Photograph). SAB32975.

Jul 8 1988 , AAS/88/04/CT43-44, AAS/88/04/CT43-44 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19850.

Jul 16 1992 , AAS/92/04/G1/5, AAS/92/04/G1/5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13857.

Jul 21 1976 , CAF 67, CAF 67 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12396.

Jul 23 1962 , AGL 2-3, AGL 2-3 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12397.

Jul 25 1984 , AAS/84/08/R19(1)/9, AAS/84/08/R19(1)/9 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12395.

Jun 13 1996 , AAS/GR/96/CT124,126-130, AAS/GR/96/CT124,126-130 (Ground Photograph). SAB32974.

Jun 19 2021 , AAS-Gr-21-06-001 - 003, AAS-Gr-21-06-001 - 003 (Ground Photograph). SAB35165.

Jun 25 1996 , AAS/96/04/G14/8-12, AAS/96/04/G14/8-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16397.

Mar 1 1997 , AAS/GR/97/CT68,71, AAS/GR/97/CT68,71 (Ground Photograph). SAB33013.

Mar 9 1998 , AAS/98/03/G4/5, AAS/98/03/G4/5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16931.

May 4 1985 , EJ 29-35, EJ 29-35 (Ground Photograph). SAB12393.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL 13,487 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, VOL 17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Nov 22 1988 , AAS/88/12/CT11, AAS/88/12/CT11 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19854.

Nov 25 1981 , AAS/81/12/CT 24, AAS/81/12/CT 24 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18704.

Sep 6 1984 , AAS/84/14/S8/1-20, AAS/84/14/S8/1-20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB12394.

Sep 23 1997 , AAS/97/11/CT, AAS/97/11/CT (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16794.

Record last edited

Apr 3 2024 10:37AM