Research Design 2002 : The Dunragit/Droughduil Mound
Julian Thomas

Index
Introduction

Since 1999, a series of excavations have been conducted on the Neolithic ceremonial monument complex at Dunragit, Galloway (Thomas 1999; 2000; 2001a; 2001b; forthcoming). To date, the three concentric rings of a late Neolithic timber enclosure have all been sampled, together with a small ring ditch structure and an early Neolithic post-defined cursus. Potentially, the final element of the Dunragit prehistoric complex is a very large earthen mound located c. 400 metres south of the enclosure, at Droughduil. This mound has been recorded as a medieval motte, and stands in an area of plantation managed by Forest Enterprise. In 1998-9 the trees were removed from the mound, revealing its truncated conical profile. This contrasts with the morphology of nearby mottes, such as Balgreggan, which are more flattened. Moreover, the location of the Droughduil mound in an exposed area of flat lowland is also out of keeping with local mottes.

The form of the Droughduil mound invites comparison with a group of large later Neolithic mounds, such as Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, and Duggleby Howe in Yorkshire. Significantly, several of these mounds are located in juxtaposition with later Neolithic enclosures. Silbury Hill is close to both the Avebury Henge and the West Kennet palisaded enclosures (Whittle 1997). The Conquer Barrow stands on the bank of the Mount Pleasant henge in Dorset, which surrounds another palisaded enclosure (Wainwright 1979). The Hatfield Barrow lies inside the Marden henge (Wainwright 1971), while the Duggleby Howe mound is surrounded by a large enclosure with causewayed ditch (Kinnes et. al. 1983). In the case of Silbury Hill, Barrett (1994: 31) has argued that the mound may have served as a viewing platform, allowing a privileged group of people to look into the interior of the Avebury enclosure, over the top of Waden Hill.

It is therefore important to note that one of the entrances of the Dunragit enclosure, a monumental avenue of posts associated with the middle palisade ring, aligns directly onto the Droughduil mound. The ground surface within the enclosure is pitched slightly to the south, so that the mound would provide an ideal position from which to view activities taking place inside the enclosure. Alternatively, gatherings of people inside the enclosure would have seen the summit of the mound (and any persons standing there) framed by the posts of the entrance structure.

The mound: some observations
Observations on the surface reveal some indication of a depression surrounding the mound. This may represent a ditch, and indeed there were quarry ditches at Silbury Hill, the Hatfield Barrow and the Conquer Barrow. Furthermore, the summit of the mound reveals a small indentation, which may be the consequence of antiquarian investigation, similar to the shafts inserted into Silbury Hill by Dean Merrewhether and others. The soil in the field immediately to the north of the mound has recently been ploughed, and is extremely sandy – much more so than in the excavated areas of the enclosure, where soils are formed on an outwash gravel. The dunes of Luce Sands begin close to the south of the mound. All of this gives an indication of the materials that would have been locally available for the construction of the mound

Methods and objectives
A season of limited investigations during August 2002 is proposed as an exercise in characterising the Droughduil mound, facilitating both the understanding of the monument and its future management and protection. A series of distinct elements of the project are proposed:-

a). Topographical survey
An EDM survey of the mound and its immediate surroundings, enabling 3D terrain models of the monument to be constructed, and providing a base map onto which other investigations can be plotted.

b). Shovel pits
A series of 1 metre square test pits will be dug on a 10 metre grid in the area surrounding the mound. The objective of this exercise will be to monitor the density of prehistoric artefacts held in the topsoil, as well as seeking hints of subsoil structures and investigating variations in soil and subsoil.

c). Trench to identify a potential quarry ditch
A 3 metre wide trench will be dug on the western side of the mound, where the tress in the plantation have been removed. This trench will probably have to be around 20 metres long to be sure of identifying the extent of any such ditch. If a ditch is present it will be bottomed, providing drawn sections and the possibility of dating material.

d). Investigation of the summit of the mound
A small (3 x 3 metre) trench will be opened on the summit of the mound, in order to investigate the depression recognised there. For management purposes, and in the light of recent events at Silbury Hill, it is critically important to identify the cause of this depression, whether from an antiquarian shaft or internal subsidence. It is emphasised that should this feature represent an intrusive cutting there is no intention to follow this down into the body of the mound.

e). Investigation of the side of the mound
The 3 metre trench mentioned in (c) above will be continued up the side of the mound. Turf and topsoil will be removed by hand, and material resulting from the slip and collapse of the mound material excavated. However, no attempt will be made to section the primary mound material itself. The intention is to clarify the morphology of the mound. If the monument is built from sand and gravel, this must presumably have been revetted in some way, probably using turf. On the analogy of Silbury Hill, it is possible that such revetment might be stepped in character.

This section will also be used as a means of seeking for a buried soil beneath the mound. The trench will also provide material for two important forms of analysis. Firstly, boxed sections will be taken for soil micromorphology, which may provide important clues concerning the construction of the monument. Secondly, a sample will be taken for soil optical TL dating. This method has a relatively low level of accuracy, but if other dating evidence is not forthcoming it should be able to conclusively settle the question of whether the mound is medieval or prehistoric.

Workforce and logistics
The project will run for three weeks from 12th August, with three days for preparatory surveying and setting up camp beforehand. The workforce will consist of 40 students from the Universities of Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff, together with five site supervisors, one site manager, one cook, one computer officer and six drivers. The project will be based at Dunragit Nursery, where campsite, office and kitchen will be established.

References

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