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<< Other Photo Pages >> Dun Deardail - Vitrified Fort in Scotland in Highlands

Submitted by howar on Thursday, 05 October 2017  Page Views: 15029

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Dun Deardail Alternative Name: Dundbhairdghall, Dun Dearg Suil, Dun Dear Duil
Country: Scotland
NOTE: This site is 4.101 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Highlands Type: Vitrified Fort
Nearest Town: Fort William
Map Ref: NN127701
Latitude: 56.784667N  Longitude: 5.067664W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3

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Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardil, Glen Nevis, www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/dun-deardail.shtml Image copyright: gingerbeardedrunningman (John Cox), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Dun Deardail is one in a line of vitrified forts that stretches from Craig Phadraig outside Inverness all the way down to the West Coast of Scotland. Most of its names refer to a fancied connection with Princess Deirdre but it is also known as Dun Dearg Suil 'Hill of the Red Eye'. This has been read as a reference to usage as a beacon hill, or possibly even folk-memory of its vitrification

Or possibly a lost legend about a woman mourning her dead lover red-eyed. Was her Naoise (not the Irish one) buried at Dun Dige mayhap ?

Access: On the road out of Fort William that goes to the two Stiell Falls you have Ben Nevis on your left and Nevis Forest on your right. Go along this road as far as the peat track that is part of the Cow Hill Circuit in the forest.

At the top where it meets the West Highland Way several directions are signposted including that for 2.8km (ha, ha) to this vitrified fort. A long steady walk along the forest road. It took an hour to come back down and so I guess my sister and I took an hour-and-a-half to get there. Going along this arduous trek you simply must have either a digital camera with several cards spare or a video camera. Which I didn't so it could well take longer if you have.

Eventually you reach the point where the signpost points to the Dun Deardail track off the West Highland Way. You go over the most incredible stile, of such a size you could literally take a pram over it - except the track is strictly for the feet. It is basically a gravel path consolidated by black bags of something spongy underneath, so that you have the strange (and at times disconcerting) feeling of walking on a deep forest floor.

Just before the fort is a big hill called An Dun despite being nothing of the sort, purely natural. At one marshy spot there is a duckboard walk. My sister wisely went no further. I cannot recommend this site to anyone that is not either very sure of foot or else foolhardy - you imagine beforehand someone will have made a level route straight into the interior of Dun Deardail but instead find yourself clambering up the steep sides on a not-quite-straight stony path.

The narrow path is composed of different materials, the right hand section (below the level of the left by several inches) is all fragmented planes of presumably bedrock whilst the left is small boulders and rocks, the right all grey but the left of differing hues not all owing to vitrification. I think in far drier weather climbing over the turf would have been my choice instead. Once you do reach the top its mostly depression, with a narrow outer circuit at the edge of the sharp drop about the site. I made most of the circuit when I had a bit of a slip. Fortunately this was towards the interior as though the drop isn't sheer I don't think you'd stop until you hit the bottom of the slopes anything up to 700m below. There are what appear to be reasonably sized structures around the edges of the interior but my view was rather damp and this really is the wrong season for a major recce unless you can get around nettles and such. On my way back down I held close to the slope and went down gingerly with my hands holding tight on the turf as I practically slithered down. You have been warned.



RCAHMS NMRS no. NN17SW 6

Note: Evening talks on Hillforts of the Tay with David Strachan, and Dun Deardail with Martin Cook - presumably covering the excavations from this past summer, at the University of Edinburgh Tuesday 7th November
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Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Ben Nevis from Bidean Bad na h-Iolaire slope Quite possibly taken at the 'Dun Deardail fort' board. (For Dun Deardail cf www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-37366363). Image copyright: Droigheann, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardail information board Image copyright: bob.berch (Bob Berch), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardail Image copyright: bob.berch (Bob Berch), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardail Old vitrified fort that has been covered by grass. The tranquility was tangible Image copyright: Silhouette_DS (Silhouette), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : View from Dun Deardail fort Image copyright: ockhuysen, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardail Image copyright: Linz Smith, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Dun Deardail
Dun Deardail submitted by Flickr : Dun Deardail There was an iron age fort on the top of this hill, although all that's visible now is a flat area with a low ridge around the edge. It is thought to have been built around 700 BC (!). At that time these mountains were covered in forest, and had bears and wolves. The most dangerous thing we encountered was a bit of slippery mud. Image copyright: Fliedermaus (Janelle), hosted on Fl...

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 1.9km N 354° Dun Dige* Round Barrow(s) (NN126720)
 3.4km N 349° Samuel's Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NN122735)
 4.5km NW 323° West Highland Museum* Museum (NN102738)
 12.3km SSW 211° Bishop's Rock* Rock Art (NN058599)
 12.3km SSW 212° North Ballachulish* Rock Art (NN057599)
 12.5km SW 214° Rubha Mor* Cairn (NN05146007)
 13.1km SW 214° Ballachulish House* Chambered Cairn (NN04885951)
 13.4km SW 227° Clach-a-charra* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NN02566134)
 15.7km NE 44° Killichonate Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NN241810)
 20.9km SW 219° Achara Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NM98665455)
 22.2km NE 46° Glen Roy Chalice Stone* Rock Art (NN295847)
 22.5km S 173° Invercharnan (Glen Etive) Cairn (NN14394761)
 29.0km SSW 208° St Cairrell's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NM980450)
 30.3km SW 219° Cairnbane (Portnacroish) Chambered Cairn (NM926473)
 32.2km WSW 252° Clach a' Phoanais (Strontian)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NM8158061357)
 32.3km SSW 208° Barcaldine* Standing Stones (NM96374213)
 32.7km S 191° Muirheadstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NN050383)
 34.0km NNE 29° Well of the Heads* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NN3047399140)
 34.5km SSW 209° Achacha standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NM94444075)
 34.5km SSW 209° Achacha Cairn* Cairn (NM94364076)
 35.4km NNE 20° Cill Donnain* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (NH26580276)
 35.7km SW 217° Eriska Crannog* Crannog (NM90114239)
 36.7km SW 216° Balure Cairns* Cairn (NM89604145)
 36.8km SSW 213° Castle Farm cairns* Cairn (NM91014029)
 36.8km SSW 213° Castle Farm standing stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NM911402)
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"Dun Deardail" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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Ash from destructive hill fort fire 'preserved in peat' by bat400 on Sunday, 17 June 2018
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coldrum posts:
Ash from destructive hill fort fire 'preserved in peat'
By Steven McKenzieBBC Scotland Highlands and Islands reporter

Archaeologists believe they have found, preserved in peat, charcoal from a fire that destroyed an ancient hillfort.
Dun Deardail was built about 2,500 years ago on a prominent knoll on Sgorr Chalum, a hill overlooking the River Nevis in Glen Nevis.
Charcoal found in surrounding peatbog has been analysed. Four "significant fire events" were identified as layers of charcoal or soot. One, from around 310BC, is thought to be the fort's burning.
Stunning aerial images of ancient hill fort. Archaeologists said the fire that destroyed Dun Deardail would have "created towering plumes of smoke rising up from the fort, expelling ash and charcoal into the air".
Layers of peat nearby were analysed and subject to a series of radiocarbon dates. The earliest of the fire events is believed to be from fires set to burn away scrub to help clear the site for the construction of the fort around 500BC.
The middle two events involved decreasing amounts of charcoal, while the largest layer, dating to 310BC, is thought to represent the burning of the hillfort.


Chieftain's daughter
The name Dun Deardail, Derdriu's Fort, links it to an ancient Iron Age Irish myth called The Sorrow of Derdriu.

The legend tells of a chieftain's daughter who was said to be so beautiful that kings, lords and warriors fought and died to try to win her hand in marriage.

Dun Deardail is what is known as a vitrified fort.

The process of vitrification occurs when a timber-framed drystone defensive rampart is destroyed by fire and the heat generated is so intense that the core of the stone rampart melts.
Examples of vitrified forts can be found across Scotland, including in Aberdeenshire.
The Dun Deardail research work was the first time charcoal analysis, along with pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating, had been used to date a vitrification event. The details of the peat analysis, done as part of an excavation of the site, and history of the hillfort, close to Fort William, are contained in a new publication.

The Archaeology of Dun Deardail is available online and has been published by Forestry Commission Scotland as part of the Nevis Landscape Partnership.

The Sorrow of Derdriu
Forestry Commission Scotland archaeologist Matt Ritchie gives an account of the Irish legend:
"The story begins in Ulster, with a prophecy by the druid Cathub.

'Call her Derdriu. She will be very beautiful but will bring much sorrow. She will be the cause of the treachery of kings and the death of many heroes.'
King Conchubur ignores the calls of his men to kill the child at birth and instead has her raised in secret, intending to wed her when she comes of age.
But all did not go to plan.
Derdriu fell in love with the warrior Noisiu and, on her urging, they fled to Scotland.

King Conchubur sent his envoy, Fergus mac Roach, to promise the brothers a pardon if they returned to Ulster.
They were betrayed on their return, as the vindictive king had also instructed Eogan mac Durthacht to ambush the brothers and kill them.

Derdriu was to be forced to marry her lover's murderer, but took her own life rather than submitting to him.
With his honour in question - he had promised the brothers safe passage - Fergus vowed revenge against the treacherous King Conchubur.
Ulster was riven with fighting and the druid's prophecy of the sorrow of Derdriu came to pass.
Could the lovers have destroyed their own hillfort on their ill-fated return to Ulster?"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c1038wnxyy0t/archaeology&link_location=live-reporting-story
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Hillforts of the Tay / Dun Deardail - University of Edinburgh 7th November 2017 by Andy B on Thursday, 05 October 2017
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First Millennia Studies Group
Next FMSG Lecture: Hillforts of the Tay/Dun Deardail

The next lecture in the 2017 – 2018 seminar series is on the 7th November .

David Strachan: Hillforts of the Tay
Martin Cook: Dun Deardail

As usual, the lecture will be at 6:00pm in the Meadows Lecture Theatre in the Archaeology Department, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Edinburgh.

More details:
https://firstmillennia.wordpress.com/2017/10/04/next-fmsg-lecture-hillforts-of-the-taydun-deardail/
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Re: Dun Deardail by Anonymous on Friday, 14 July 2017
https://www.facebook.com/fort.william.mountain.festival/videos/1570965539612176/
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Dun Deardail vitrified hillfort excavations, 14th-25th August 2017 by Andy B on Friday, 14 July 2017
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2017: The Dun Deardail Hillfort Project has reached its final season, and this year looks to be as exciting as ever.

Excavations will be taking place from 14th-25th August, and we will be hoping to further unravel the mysteries of the enigmatic Iron Age Hillfort overlooking Glen Nevis. The Nevis Landscape Partnership, Forestry Commission Scotland and AOC Archaeology will be uncovering more information about this vitrified hillfort, who lived there and what was happening at Dun Deardail.

The team have been examining the ramparts, for evidence of their construction and destruction, as well as internal areas within the hillfort for indications of occupational deposits for two seasons, and 2017 marks the third and final opportunity to visit or assist in our efforts. Volunteers welcome. More details at
http://www.digit2017.com/events/dun-deardail-hillfort-excavation-2017/
and http://www.nevislandscape.co.uk/local/projects/index.php?projectID=13

2016
http://www.aocarchaeology.com/news/article/dun-deardail-community-excavations-2016-excavation/

2015
http://www.aocarchaeology.com/news/article/dun-deardail-2015/
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Video about Dun Deardail excavation by Andy B on Friday, 14 July 2017
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Nice video examining Dun Deardail, an ancient vitrified (stone ramparts fused by extreme heat) hill-fort in Glen Nevis, Scotland.

https://www.facebook.com/fort.william.mountain.festival/videos/1570965539612176/

Follow the story of an ambitious project which aims to uncover the history (and mystery) of Dun Deardail, an ancient vitrified hill-fort in Glen Nevis.

The project is being delivered by Nevis Landscape Partnership, Forestry Commission Scotland and Heritage Lottery Fund. This short film has been shot & edited by Rare Breed Productions.

To find out more visit http://www.nevislandscape.co.uk

To find out more about Fort William Mountain Festival visit http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk

With thanks to rbatham for the link
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Re: Dun Deardail by SumDoood on Saturday, 17 September 2016
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Excavations as reported on 15-09-2016: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-37366363
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Re: Dun Deardail by SumDoood on Wednesday, 28 October 2015
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15.10.2015:

"The first ever archaeological excavation at the Iron Age fort of Dun Deardail in Glen Nevis has taken place. Over 750 visitors (including over 250 local school children) visited the site during the two week excavation to learn more about the fort and its archaeologal story."

http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/news/1359-exploring-the-archaeology-of-dun-deardail
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Re: Dun Deardail by Anonymous on Saturday, 12 August 2006
The footpath leading up to the fort at dun deardail is currently undergoing reconstruction .by local specialists PATHOLOGY, But is still open .will have laid a good solid path a metre wide . the lower section of path will eventually be rebuilt for wood extraction ,so will not receive the same level of resurfacing . The work will extend from the style up as far as the boardwalk below the fort..The plastic bags are actually geotextile rolled out over the peat bog in order to float the path.this will all be replaced with superior materials to reduce damage by water erosion. yours Dave ,PATHOLOGY.
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