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Mid-Argyll - 16
Dunadd Fort

Site/Artefact Dunadd Fort Type Fort Site Number National Grid Reference 1837 East 6935 North Map ( 1:25000) Ordnance Survey Explorer No 358 List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here

Excavation Details
Excavations here in 1904-5, 1925 and 1980-1 showed Dunadd's central importance in 6th-8th centuries AD with its domineering architecture and rich goods imported from Britain and the Continent. There is evidence for metalworking and for ecclesiastical influence. Rock carvings suggest it may have been where early kings were inaugurated.

Description
Rising out of the Great Moss, Dunadd, worn down by successive ice-ages, stands sentinel as the River Add snakes around its feet. Since prehistory, people have been drawn by its powerful setting and have left their marks: the footprints of the Dalriadic Kings, the carved wild boar of the Picts, enigmatic messages in the early Celtic script - subtle evidence of comings and goings, feuds and unions. It was here the Scottish nation was born.

Dunadd rises out of the flat flood plain, the undrained portion of which is still raised bog (Moine Mhor) which can be seen by the dark vegetation in the distance. The River Add can be seen meandering towards the sea at Crinan. The island of Jura and Scarba can be seen on the horizon.

Access/Ownership
The site is managed by Historic Scotland with free access from dedicated car park close by.

References

• RCAHMS Argyll vol. 6 no. 248
• RCAHMS Argyll vol. 7 no 281
• PSAS 38 (1903-4) p205-51
• PSAS 39 (1904-5) p292-322
• PSAS 64 (1929-30) p111-127
• PSAS 95 (1960-1) p46 no. 315-6
• Allan Lane & Ewan Campbell

Check out the following sections of the website for related information

• ecclesiastical influence
• metal working
• Dunadd's summit
• Croagh Patrick
• Borg
• Norwegian imports

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

Mayo - Vestvågøy - Mid-Argyll

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