Intermittent occupation and forced abandonment: excavation of an Iron Age promotory fort at Carghidown, Dumfries and Galloway

Ronan Toolis (Author)

Alan Duffy (Contributor)

Rob Engl (Contributor)

J Evans (Contributor)

Lynne Fouracre (Contributor)

Matthew S Horstwood (Contributor)

Fraser Hunter (Contributor)

Robin Inglis (Contributor)

V Pashley (Contributor)

Tessa Poller (Contributor)

A Hunter Blair (Contributor)


Keywords:
Roundhouses, Rampart, Ditch, promontory fort, lead beads, copper
Location(s):
Carghidown; Dumfries and Galloway; Scotland; UK
Period(s):
Iron Age

Abstract


Excavations at Carghidown demonstrate sporadic occupation of this promontory fort over a short period, during the late first millennium BC or early first millennium AD. The analysis of lead beads from this settlement adds support to growing evidence for copper mining in this area of Galloway at the time and suggests that the inhabitants were of some status within the local social hierarchy. The excavation also demonstrates that the site was only formally enclosed during the latter stages of its occupation and that within a year or two of this act of enclosure the ramparts were violently thrown down, the repair and construction of buildings within the settlement was abruptly halted and occupation ceased.

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Published
30-11-2008
How to Cite
Toolis, R., Duffy, A., Engl, R., Evans, J., Fouracre, L., Horstwood, M. S., … Blair, A. H. (2008). Intermittent occupation and forced abandonment: excavation of an Iron Age promotory fort at Carghidown, Dumfries and Galloway. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 137, 265–317. https://doi.org/10.9750/PSAS.137.265.317
Section
Articles

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