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Mid-Argyll - 4
Dun Ardifur

Site/Artefact Dun Ardifur 1 Type Fort Site Number National Grid Reference 1789 East 6969 North Map ( 1:25000) Ordnance Survey Explorer No 358 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Excavation Details
The site was excavated in 1904. Debris was cleared from the interior to reveal a strip of paving by the entrance. No other structural features were noted.

Artefacts discovered include:

• polished stone axe, four whetstones, quartzite polisher
• stone mould, sandstone whorl, perforated discs, bronze ring
• fragment of samian ware (2nd C. AD) and pottery sherd

Description
Extremely well preserved dun measuring 19m in diameter and situated in a position offering little natural protection. The drystonewall is carefully built, the blocks having been regularly shaped or carefully selected, with small pinnings being used to make courses level. Almost all inner and outer faces of the wall can be traced and it is 3.5m at its widest. The inner face, which is stepped back to form a ledge at 1.8m high, rises to 2.6m high, and the outer to 3m high (twenty courses). The entrance is on the WSW side and a doorway gives access to a flight of four steps leading down to an intramural cell. To the north there is an opening to provide access for an intramural stair of which more than thirteen steps remain.

The form of construction suggests the 1st to 2nd century AD as the date of construction, but objects found there such as a crucible and imported pottery show that it was a site of some status in the 6th to 8th century AD. Was there continuous occupation and use between these two dates, or was it abandoned and subsequently reoccupied?

Contemporary with other key fortified sites such as Dunadd, Ardifur probably played a key role in the development of the Dalriada expansion

Access/Ownership
Located on the Polltalloch estate, permission should be sought

References

• Campbell and Sandeman, 40, no.283
• PSAS 39 (1904-5) p259-270
• PSAS 66 (1931-2) p385
• PSAS 95 (1960-1) p40 no. 283
• RCAHMS Argyll vol. 6. no. 270

Check out the following sections of the website for related information

• Dunadd
• Irish Homesteads

Mid-Argyll Sites and Artefacts

1. Kilmory Oib  2. Druim an Dúin  3. Duntroon  4. Dún Ardifur 1  5. Eilean Rígh 1  6. Dún Chonaillach  7. Loch Awe Crannogs  8. Torran Hoard  9. Dún na Nighinne 10. Kilmartin Parish Church 11. Temple Wood Stone Circles 12. Ogham stone, Poltalloch 13. Barnakil Cross 14. Kilbride Chapel 15. Kilbride Crosses 16. Dunadd Fort 17. In Nomine disk 18. Brooch Moulds 19. Dunadd cross-marked quern 20. Loch Glashan Crannog 21. Glebe Cairn

22. Nether Largie North 23. Nether Largie Mid 24. Nether Largie South 25. Ri Cruin 26. Nether Largie 27. Ballymeanoch - Stones 28. Ballymeanoch - Henge 29. Ballymeanoch - Cairn 30. Dunchragaig 31. Baluachraig 32. Carnassarie Castle 33. BallymeanocH - Barrow 34. Dun Mac Samhainn 35. Glenmoine, Upper Largie 36. Creag a' Mhadaidh 37. Carnassarie - Round Cairn 38. Carnasserie - Standing Stones 39. Carnasserie - Cist 40. Carnasserie Cottage 41. Upper Largie - Cist 42. Upper Largie - Rock Carvings

43. Nether Largie 44. Poltalloch - Cist 45. Poltalloch - cists 46. Bruach an Druimein 47. Dunchraigaig - Dun 48. Poltalloch - Round Cairn 49. Rownfield - Cist 50. Ballymeanoch - Cist 51. Poltalloch - Cists 52. Ballymeanoch - Dun 53. Dunadd - Standing Stones 54. Dunadd - Standing Stone 55. Baile Mor - Dun 56. Anaskeog - Rock Carvings 57. Bariole 58. Rhudil - Round Cairn 1 59. Rhudil - Round Cairn 2 60. Kilmartin Castle 61. Slockavullin 62. Rowanfield - Standing Stone 63. Poltalloch - Cremation

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