Description

Dun a'Ghallain is an Iron Age fortified site, or dun, situated on the largest island in Loch an Eilean. The dun consists of an irregular circuit of walling 3m wide, enclosing an area some 12m N-S by 14m E-W. The entrance is on the NE side, and consists of a paved passage 0.8m wide. The interior is overgrown, but appears to have been roughly paved.

The irregular surface of the small island to the SE of the dun, and outside its walls, suggests the presence of further remains of archaeological interest. The area to be scheduled is 25m NE-SW by 45m NW-SE, to include the whole surface area of the island, including the dun, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This monument is of national importance as a fine example of a later prehistoric defensive settlement. Despite limited excavation many years ago, substantial areas remain undisturbed and this, together with the waterlogged nature of the location, implies a high potential for recovery of valuable information regarding contemporary domestic and defensive architecture plus domestic and economic aspects of life in the late Iron Age.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NF 77 NW 2.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland