Scheduled MonumentsScotlandDunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings
Iron Age · Fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings

Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings

Scotland
HES SM90108
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Dunadd is an Iron Age fort and early historic settlement located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, occupying a prominent rocky outcrop in the Moine Mhor valley. The site preserves evidence of occupation spanning from the Iron Age through the early medieval period, with particular significance as a possible royal or administrative centre of the kingdom of Dál Riata during the fifth to seventh centuries. The fort's rock carvings include a carved boar, cup-marks, and an ogham inscription, which constitute important material evidence of the site's status and cultural connections to both pre-Christian and early Christian Gaelic society. The asymmetrical ramparts and the carved footprint on the summit suggest ritual or ceremonial functions alongside defensive purposes, making Dunadd one of the most archaeologically significant early medieval sites in western Scotland.

Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90108. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings?

Dunadd is an Iron Age fort and early historic settlement located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, occupying a prominent rocky outcrop in the Moine Mhor valley. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90108.

What period does Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings date from?

Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings?

Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90108.

What other scheduled monuments are near Dunadd,fort,boar carving,ogam inscription and cupmarkings?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Carn Ban, cairn, Cairnbaan (2.8 km), Achnabreck,prehistoric rock carvings 370m NNE of (3.5 km), Achnabreck,standing stone 275m SSW of (3.8 km).

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