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Tomtayewen is a dun, an Iron Age fortified settlement characteristic of northern Britain. Located in Perthshire, the monument occupies a defensive position constructed directly on bedrock belonging to the Southern Highland Group, a geological formation of psammite and pelite dating from the Middle Cambrian period. The underlying stone would have been exposed or easily accessible during construction, offering a natural foundation for the settlement's defences.
Duns of this type typically comprise stone-built structures with substantial walls, often circular or oval in plan, designed to provide secure settlement for a household and livestock. The Perthshire location places Tomtayewen within a region where such fortifications were established during the Iron Age, reflecting the social and defensive needs of contemporary communities.
The site is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM2621, recognising its archaeological and historical significance as evidence of Iron Age settlement patterns in the Scottish Highlands. The monument contributes to our understanding of how early medieval communities in Perthshire organised their domestic and defensive architecture on the distinctive geological foundation of this region.
Tomtayewen, dun is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2621. View the official record →
Tomtayewen is a dun, an Iron Age fortified settlement characteristic of northern Britain. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2621.
Tomtayewen, dun dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a dun. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Tomtayewen, dun 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 SM2621.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cup and ring marked stone, dun and farmstead 70m SW of Brae of Cultullich (1.3 km), The Dun,fort 400m ESE of Tyndun (3.4 km), Meall Uaine, round houses 940m, 1020m and 1040m NE of Loch Scoly (4.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Tomtayewen, dun's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Tomtayewen, dun stands on Southern Highland Group, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is psammite and pelite.