Dun Ardtreck, Isle of Skye, United Kingdom

Dun Ardtreck is a D-shaped dun, or 'semi-broch', situated on a rocky knoll on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. It encloses an area of about 13 by 10 metres. It was constructed with a ruidmentary hollow-wall. The entrance is particularly well-preserved with door-checks characteristic of brochs. The entrance to a guard cell led off to the right behind the door-checks.

Dun Ardtreck was excavated by Euan W. MacKie in 1964-1965 as part of an exercise to establish the development of the broch. It had been built in two stages: a roughly level platform was constructed and on this was set the galleried wall. Charcoal from the platform was radiocarbon dated to 115 BC. The first phase of occupation seems to have been very short and it appears to have ended in violence and destruction. The second phase was dated from the pottery finds to the middle of the 2nd century AD. The finds from this period included iron tools, bronze ornaments and glass ring-heads as well as Roman Samian ware pottery sherds and a piece of a Roman bead.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Richard Walsh (4 years ago)
Never been here, but my mate got engaged here so it must be pretty solid.

James Hoskins (4 years ago)
Absolutely stunning view, especially at sunset.

Richard Terrio (4 years ago)
Off the beaten path and a short walk from limited parking. The ground gets very soggy and the nearby lighthouse is likely not worth the further trek.

Renee Newman (6 years ago)
Beautiful and an excellent walk.

Andrew Lawson (6 years ago)
Difficult to get to. Very wet and windy. Just over the brow.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.

Dun Ardtreck

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople