Condition

2
DUN (POSSIBLE)
9989
Na h-Eileanan Siar

Description

Dun Steingarry (also known as Cuithe Steilligarry stood at the SW corner of Loch Paible, its site being traceable as a symmetrical flat knoll with practically no remains of walls. It evidently occupied an islet in shallow water before the loch was drained, before 1793. 1911. There is no trace of antiquity on the knoll at NF 7198 6838, the only knoll in the area. Although the name 'Steingarry' is known locally it is applied loosely to the rocks around Hanglam (NF 762 681). 1965. No trace of a dun could be found at this location though there were a number of larger boulders on the beach. It is possible that there could be remains beneath the surface. ShoreUPDATE May 2016 Although there is little surface expression on surface of the knoll behind the coast edge, a long curvilinear stone wall on the shore encloses the peninsula. This wall is spread to a width of over c.1m and is constructed of large boulders up to 1m in size, incorporating bedrock outcrops along part of its length. Further stonework is visible in stretches of the coast edge forming a wall of 2-3 courses, up to 1m high and incorporating massive boulders. The coast edge is intermittently vegetated but no cultural material or midden was noted in the exposed parts of the section. It's likely that there is a large structure buried in the headland. There are extensive areas of peat shelf exposed on the beach here, which in places is eroding rapidly. This has been noted for its palaeoenvironmental potential and levels of organic preservation; wooden, bone and antler artefacts have been recovered here during previous investigation of the site and by walkers while excavation identified a number of features and anthropogenic deposits. The dun probably formed the focal point of activity in this area. Other sites in this vicinity (9406, 9410, 9411, 9413, 9414, 9415) are related to this master record for the area. This site record reflects the overall archaeological importance, potential and vulnerability to coastal processes of this area of Loch Paible.
Site visit March 2024. Part of the east wall of a stone enclosure mapped on the 1st and 2nd editions OS, not visible above ground now, are eroding at the coast edge. A re-used saddle quern and a possible moulded stone are incorporated into the wall. The enclosure itself may follow the original Dun area, or be constructed from stone from the Iron Age site. This inner wall is distinct from the larger encircling wall around the headland, now mostly in the intertidal zone constructed with very large boulders.

Location

71980.00
868380.00
27700
57.5858421
-7.4912682

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Enclosure-Dun wall on north side of dun. This follows the line of the enclosure mapped on historic OS. 09/03/2024 Enclosure-Dun wall on north side of dun. This follows the line of the enclosure mapped on historic OS. joannahambly
Enclosure-Dun wall on north side of dun. This follows the line of the enclosure mapped on historic OS.
Encircling wall on the south side of the dun 09/03/2024 Encircling wall on the south side of the dun joannahambly
Encircling wall on the south side of the dun
Enclosure-Dun wall in coast edge 09/03/2024 Enclosure-Dun wall in coast edge joannahambly
Enclosure-Dun wall in coast edge
Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall, looking north 13/03/2024 Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall, looking north joannahambly
Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall, looking north
Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall now on upper shore, looking S 13/03/2024 Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall now on upper shore, looking S joannahambly
Line of southwestern portion of enclosure wall now on upper shore, looking S
Saddle quern re-used in enclosure wall 13/03/2024 Saddle quern re-used in enclosure wall joannahambly
Saddle quern re-used in enclosure wall
Detail of moulded stone re-used in enclosure wall 13/03/2024 Detail of moulded stone re-used in enclosure wall joannahambly
Detail of moulded stone re-used in enclosure wall
Jan 2020: View across top of peat shelf towards channel 30/05/2018 Jan 2020: View across top of peat shelf towards channel MartynJ
Jan 2020: View across top of peat shelf towards channel
Jan 2020: eroding peat shelf (NF 71750 68357) 30/05/2018 Jan 2020: eroding peat shelf (NF 71750 68357) MartynJ
Jan 2020: eroding peat shelf (NF 71750 68357)
May 2018: composite drone image of site of dun, headland and enclosing wall 30/05/2018 May 2018: composite drone image of site of dun, headland and enclosing wall EllieSCHARP
May 2018: composite drone image of site of dun, headland and enclosing wall
Edge of the peninsula with the curving wall on the foreshore in front 08/05/2016 Edge of the peninsula with the curving wall on the foreshore in front EllieSCHARP
Edge of the peninsula with the curving wall on the foreshore in front
Detail of stonework visible in the coast edge 08/05/2016 Detail of stonework visible in the coast edge EllieSCHARP
Detail of stonework visible in the coast edge
Curving wall running around the peninsula 08/05/2016 Curving wall running around the peninsula EllieSCHARP
Curving wall running around the peninsula
Stone walling visible in the coast edge 08/05/2016 Stone walling visible in the coast edge EllieSCHARP
Stone walling visible in the coast edge
The curving wall around the peninsula 08/05/2016 The curving wall around the peninsula EllieSCHARP
The curving wall around the peninsula
The seaward end of the peninsula showing the outer curving wall on the beach and the stonework in the coast edge 08/05/2016 The seaward end of the peninsula showing the outer curving wall on the beach and the stonework in the coast edge EllieSCHARP
The seaward end of the peninsula showing the outer curving wall on the beach and the stonework in the coast edge

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
4740 26/03/2024 joannahambly
Tidal state Low
Proximity to coast edge Coast edge
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Access accessible on foot (no footpath)
3324 30/05/2018 EllieSCHARP
Description Drone survey May 2018: As described. The curvilinear stone wall which encloses the headland is clearly visible on the composite drone image.
2633 08/05/2016 EllieSCHARP
Tidal state Low
Site located? Yes
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion; has eroded in the past
Visibility above ground Highly visible (substantial remains)
Visibility in section Clearly visible in section
Description Dun Steingarry (also known as Cuithe Steilligarry stood at the SW corner of Loch Paible, its site being traceable as a symmetrical flat knoll with practically no remains of walls. It evidently occupied an islet in shallow water before the loch was drained, before 1793. 1911. There is no trace of antiquity on the knoll at NF 7198 6838, the only knoll in the area. Although the name 'Steingarry' is known locally it is applied loosely to the rocks around Hanglam (NF 762 681). 1965. No trace of a dun could be found at this location though there were a number of larger boulders on the beach. It is possible that there could be remains beneath the surface. ShoreUPDATE May 2016 Although there is little surface expression on surface of the knoll behind the coast edge, a long curvilinear stone wall on the shore encloses the peninsula. This wall is spread to a width of over c.1m and is constructed of large boulders up to 1m in size, incorporating bedrock outcrops along part of its length. Further stonework is visible in stretches of the coast edge forming a wall of 2-3 courses, up to 1m high and incorporating massive boulders. The coast edge is intermittently vegetated but no cultural material or midden was noted in the exposed parts of the section. It's likely that there is a large structure buried in the headland. There are extensive areas of peat shelf exposed on the beach here, which in places is eroding rapidly. This has been noted for its palaeoenvironmental potential and levels of organic preservation; wooden, bone and antler artefacts have been recovered here during previous investigation of the site and by walkers while excavation identified a number of features and anthropogenic deposits. The dun probably formed the focal point of activity in this area. Other sites in this vicinity (9406, 9410, 9411, 9413, 9414, 9415) are related to this master record for the area. This site record reflects the overall archaeological importance, potential and vulnerability to coastal processes of this area of Loch Paible.
Assign priority 2 to reflect the archaeological importance of the dun site and wider area, which incorporates a number of other sites and peat deposits with high archaeological and palaeoenvironmental potential; and their vulnerability to coastal processes.

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