Dunadd

{{Infobox military installation

|name=Dunadd Hillfort

|location=Kilmichael Glassary, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom

|image= Dunadd Fort 20080427.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|caption=Dunadd Hillfort Crag

|materials=Stone

|used=Iron age–16th century C.E.

|type=Hillfort

|condition=Ruin

|open_to_public=Yes

|coordinates={{Coord|56|05|10|N|5|28|43|W}}

}}

Dunadd (Scottish Gaelic Dún Ad, "fort on the [River] Add", Old Irish Dún Att) is a hillfort in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, dating from the Iron Age and early medieval period and is believed to be the capital of the ancient kingdom of Dál Riata.John Keay and Julia Keay, Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland, (Harper Collins, 1994) p. 255.{{cite web |title=Kilmartin Glen: Dunadd Fort |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kilmartin-glen-dunadd-fort/ |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |accessdate=23 October 2018}} Dal Riata was a Gaelic kingdom spanning the northern Irish coast to Argyll and the Scottish islands in the early centuries AD, possibly after the Romans had abandoned Southern Britain and at the time when the Anglo-Saxons were crossing the North Sea to counter incursions over Hadrian's Wall by the Picts and Dalriadan Scots.

Description

Dunadd is a rocky crag that may have been one time an island and now lies inland near the River Add, from which it takes its name, a little north of Lochgilphead (NR 836 936). The surrounding land, now largely reclaimed, was formerly boggy and known as the Mòine Mhòr ("Great Moor") in Gaelic. This no doubt increased the defensive potential of the site.Alan Lane and Ewan Campbell, Dunadd: An early Dalriadic capital (Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2000). Detailed analysis of sea-level changes in the region argue that the Dun was an island or promontory into historic times, and that receding sea levels left the fortification open to siege and seizure in the 6th to 7th centuries.{{citation |first1=Richard |last1=Lathe |first2= David |last2=Smith |title=Holocene Relative Sea-Level Changes in Western Scotland: The Early Insular Situation of Dun Add (Kintyre) and Dumbarton Rock (Strathclyde) |journal=The Heroic Age |volume=16 |pages= 1–5 |url=http://www.heroicage.org/issues/16/lathe_smith.php}}

History

File:Dunadd Fort Pictish type boar carving.jpg

Originally occupied in the Iron Age, the site later became a seat of the kings of Dál Riata. It is known for its unique stone carvings below the upper enclosure, including a footprint and basin thought to have formed part of Dál Riata's coronation ritual. On the same flat outcrop of rock is an incised boar in Pictish style, and an inscription in the ogham script. The inscription is read as referring to a Finn Manach and is dated to the late 8th century or after.

Dunadd is mentioned twice in early sources. In 683 the Annals of Ulster record: "The siege of Dún At and the siege of Dún Duirn" without further comment on the outcome or participants. In the same chronicle the entry for 736 states: "Aengus son of Fergus, king of the Picts, laid waste the territory of Dál Riata and seized Dún At and burned Creic and bound in chains two sons of Selbach, i.e. Donngal and Feradach."[http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T100001A/ The Annals of Ulster]

The site was occupied after 736, at least into the 9th century. It is mentioned twice in later sources, suggesting that it retained some importance. In 1436, it is recorded that "Alan son of John Riabhach MacLachlan of Dunadd" was made seneschal of the lands of Glassary; the chief place of residence of the MacLachlans of Dunadd lay below the fort. In June 1506, commissioners appointed by James IV, including the earl and bishop of Argyll, met at Dunadd to collect rents and resolve feuds.

The site is an Ancient Monument, under the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public (open all year; no entrance charge).{{Cite web|title=Dunadd Fort|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/kilmartin-glen-dunadd-fort/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=www.historicenvironment.scot|language=en}}

Excavations

Because Dunadd is mentioned in early sources, and is readily identifiable, it has been excavated on several occasions (1904–1905, 1929, and 1980) and has one of the most important ensembles of finds from any early medieval site in Scotland. Finds range from the 6th to the 8th centuries AD. These include tools, weapons, quernstones, imported pottery and motif-pieces and moulds for the manufacture of fine metalwork (especially jewellery).

Bruach An Druimein connection

Seven kilometres to the north of Dunadd is the site of Bruach An Druimein. Excavated in the 1960s in advance of gravel quarrying, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Bronze Age cists cemetery, two round houses from the Iron Age, and a number of artefacts from the early medieval period that were contemporary with Dunadd. Two medieval glass beads were found that have similar chemical compositions to those found at Dunadd, leading the archaeologists to believe that the beads came from Dunadd and that the site was associated with, or controlled by Dunadd.{{Cite web|title=Vol 27 (2008): Bruach An Druimein, Poltalloch, Argyll: excavations directed by the late Eric Cregeen, 1960-2 {{!}} Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports|url=http://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/sair/issue/view/47|access-date=2021-08-11|website=journals.socantscot.org}}

In fiction

In Rosemary Sutcliff's 1965 novel The Mark of the Horse Lord the Dal Riada undergo an internal struggle for control of royal succession, with Dun Monaidh central to the conflict, including a depiction of royal coronation and use of carved footprint. Dunadd is the location for Claire R. McDougall's novel "[https://www.amazon.com/Veil-of-Time-ebook/dp/B00DPM7YMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380573268&sr=8-2&keywords=veil+of+time Veil of Time]," in which a modern-day woman is transported back to Dunadd's heyday in the 8th century. All the features of Dunadd, including the footprint, the boar, the well and the tumble down ruins are features of the story, as are the modern farm and cottages . Other ancient sites in the Kilmartin Valley also play a part in the narrative.

Files

File:The Footprint of Fealty, Dunadd Fort - geograph.org.uk - 940508.jpg|Footprint of Fealty

File:Dunadd Fort Basin and Footprint.png|Dunadd Fort Basin and Footprint, in Kilmichael Glassary in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

File:ViewFromDunadd2-HypeNapungra.jpg|A View Of The River From The Summit Of Dunadd

File:Dunadd Fort Climb.jpg|Extended view reverse of climb to top of Dunadd Fort

File:ViewFromDunadd1-Scotland-HypeNapungra.jpg|A View From Atop Dunadd

File:Scotland Dunadd.jpg|Dunadd Hillfort - A View From The Summit

File:Dunadd-Hillfort-DescriptiveAndMap.jpg|On site Descriptive Sign and Map

File:Dunadd-Hillfort-CarvedPathway.JPG|Pathway carved through rocks near summit

File:Dunadd-Hillfort-MidlevelApproach.JPG|Mid-level approach up steep slope

Notes

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070612043758/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/theses/jeffrey_2004/download.cfm Three Dimensional Modelling of Scottish Early Medieval Sculpted Stones] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20080602084101/http://www.ads.ahds.ac.uk/ Archaeology Data Service]) AVI, QuickTime and VRML format images of Dunadd and the surrounds.
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/article/kingdom_gaels/ The Kingdom of the Gaels], BBC Scotland - Scotland's History
[https://web.archive.org/web/20091016054925/http://www.mackinnon.org/gazetteer-key.html#1 Brief history with photos with respect to the Siol Alpin]