Dunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen
Iron Age to Early Medieval·Dal Riata Scots·🇬🇧 Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom
About
About Dunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen
Dunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom is a Iron Age to Early Medieval hillfort attributed to Dal Riata Scots. Capital of Dal Riata where kings were inaugurated placing foot in carved footprint; vitrified ramparts and Balure type. Excavations and surveys provide calibrated chronology and architectural analysis.
Why it mattersKey Dal Riata Scots site preserving hillfort architecture of the Argyll, Scotland region
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology precision
- 02Landscape setting function
Theories
- 01Ceremonial burial aggregation
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 500 BCE hillfort; 500–900 CE royal inauguration centre
- Period
- Iron Age to Early Medieval
- Culture
- Dal Riata Scots
- Purpose
- Rocky hillfort with footprint petroglyph, ogham and inauguration stone of Scottish kings
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 500 BCE hillfort; 500–900 CE royal inauguration centre
Initial construction
c. 1890 CE
Antiquarian recording
On the ground
Structures & features
56.0860° N · 5.4780° W · 50 m · 3 mapped features
Dunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen — Inner Rampart
rampartPrimary rampart circuit
56.0861° N · 5.4779° WDunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen — Hill Summit Cairn
cairnCairn or summit feature
56.0863° N · 5.4781° WDunadd Fort — Kilmartin Glen — Entrance Gateway
gatewayOriginal entrance causeway through ramparts
56.0858° N · 5.4777° W