Excavations at Dunragit: 2001 Julian Thomas With contributions by Ange Brennan,Chris Fowler,Kirstin Miller and Dave Robinson

Fig. 15: Dunragit, Trenches A, AA,F and J showing features of the post-defined cursus monument.

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The excavation of Trench J has added much to our understanding of the Neolithic monument complex at Dunragit. Firstly we have identified the western side of the post-defined cursus monument. Unexpectedly, this proved not to be parallel with the eastern side, and the two sides appear to be converging toward the south. The most likely explanation for this phenomenon is that the cursus enclosure was slightly trapezoid, with the northern terminal being rather broader than the rest of the structure. This possibility harmonises with the larger postholes at the terminal excavated in Trench F in 2001, which indicate that at the northern end of the monument the posts were taller and thicker. This seems to suggest that some emphasis was being placed on the terminal, possibly because this formed either a point of entry into the enclosure, or because the expanded terminal zone represented a focus for performative activities of one kind or another. The expanded terminal evokes parallels with some other Scottish cursus monuments, such as Balneaves (Brophy 1999: 126), while a more general level of similarity can be suggested with the western end of the Stonehenge Cursus (RCHM 1979: 14).

Trench J also revealed an impressive stretch of the minor postholes of the middle ring of the later Neolithic enclosure. However, there were rather fewer of the larger posts in amongst these than had been the case in Trenches A and AA. Most of these features, such as 4260, 4047 and 4204, were quite modest in size and lacked post-ramps. However, one of the larger middle ring posts stood out as quite distinct from the others. This was 4110, a large, deep posthole with a ramp on the western side. This is by some margin the largest middle ring posthole that has been excavated in four seasons of work. Interestingly, this feature cut one of the postholes of the cursus monument, 4157. This stratigraphic relationship gives the reassuring confirmation that the cursus (presumably Earlier Neolithic in date) was earlier than the enclosure. But the relationship has a more interesting dimension, for feature 4110 contained a large polished stone axe (FN 1462). The axe is of a coarse, gritty stone, and the cutting edge has been broken off from it, perhaps deliberately. Thus, this feature is quite unusual, in that it is both the only feature of the middle ring of this size, and the only one to contain any significant item of material culture. That this feature should be located at the precise point where the enclosure cuts across the cursus seems unlikely to be a matter of chance. It is possible that the larger post and the deliberately deposited axe were a means of acknowledging or commemorating the relationship between the new monument and the old.

Top of mound : section thru cairn

The excavation at the Droughduil mound also appears to have been a highly successful exercise. It is clear that the mound was originally a flat-topped and step-sided structure, composed of tightly-packed sand, and possibly built onto an existing dune. It is unclear at this stage whether the original structure had been revetted in some way: it seems inherently likely that some material such as turf was used to insure against the mound’s simply washing away, but there is little physical trace of this. The mound seems to have been covered by a thick deposit of wind-blown sand quite soon after its construction, and this may have served to enhance its stability. It was onto this material that a small round cairn was later built, presumably during the earlier part of the Bronze Age. This suggested date is supported by the finds of flint scrapers and cremated bone, and by the similarity of the structure to two round cairns excavated nearby, at Mid Gleniron Farm, by Corcoran (1963). The cairn was evidently quite tall and relatively unstable, for the collapse of its upper courses forms a clear horizon running down the side of the mound, and sealing the primary wind-blown sand deposits.

It is unfortunate that no material suitable for radiocarbon dating was recovered from the mound. However, a series of samples for OSL dating were taken by Dr David Sanderson (see appendix). These will be highly instructive, not simply in distinguishing the relative dates of the mound and the cairn, but in identifying the base of the mound, and the age of the material beneath. If, as suggested, the mound was constructed on top of an existing dune, it is to be expected that there will be a considerable difference in date above and below the dark horizon in the stratigraphy at the base of the mound, which may represent a vestigial turfline. Should this not be the case, a different explanation for the construction of the mound will need to be found.

An entirely unexpected aspect of the excavation was the small building of 18th or 19th century date identified in Trench H on the summit of the mound. It is possible that this had some functional purpose connected with the agricultural use of the immediate landscape. However, several large glass bottle bases were recovered from the upper part of the cairn collapse, and this suggests a more recreational use. It seems probable that the building was a small folly, used by the local gentry for social gatherings. In any case, there can be little doubt over the date of its destruction by Robert Broadfoot. What is less clear is the reason for the demolition.

References

• Brophy, K. 1999 The cursus monuments of Scotland. In: A. Barclay and J. Harding (eds.) Pathways and Ceremonies: the Cursus Monuments of Neolithic Britain and Ireland, 119-29. Oxford: Oxbow.
• Corcoran, J.W.X.P. 1963 Excavation of a chambered cairn at Mid Gleniron Farm, Wigtownshire. Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society 41, 1-99.
• Kinnes, I.A., Schadla-Hall, T., Chadwick, P. and Dean, P. 1983 Duggleby Howe reconsidered. Archaeological Journal 140, 83-108.
• Speak, S. and Burgess, C.B. 1999 Meldon Bridge: a centre of the third millennium BC in Peebleshire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 129, 1-118.
• RCHM 1979 Stonehenge and its Environs. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
• Whittle, A.W.R. 1997 Sacred Mound, Holy Rings: Silbury Hill and the West Kennet Palisade Enclosures. Oxford: Oxbow.

Figure Captions

• Fig. 1: Dunragit, showing features plotted for aerial photographs and trenches excavated 1999-2002.
• Fig. 2: Droughduil Mote, contour survey and layout of trenches.
• Fig. 3: Droughduil Mote, layout of trenches and shovel-pits.
• Fig. 4: Droughduil Mote, Trench G, north-facing long section.
• Fig. 5: Droughduil Mote, Trench G at three successive stages of excavation, showing cairn collapse and steps in mound surface.
• Fig. 6: Droughduil Mote, section of round cairn in Trench G.
• Fig. 7: Droughduil Mote, basal layer of round cairn in Trench G.
• Fig. 8: Droughduil Mote, cairn collapse material in Trenches G and H.
• Fig. 9: Droughduil Mote, composite plan of round cairn in Trench G.
• Fig. 10: Droughduil Mote, Trench H, showing building 5007 and cairn material.
• Fig. 11: Droughduil Mote, Trench H, elevations of ‘the Hut’.
• Fig. 12: Dunragit: Trenches A, AA, F and J.
• Fig. 13: Dunragit: all trenches excavated 1999-2002.
• Fig. 14: Dunragit, Trench J, showing cut numbers of features.
• Fig. 15: Dunragit, Trenches A, AA, F and J showing features of the post-defined cursus monument.