Abstract
Excavations were undertaken at Achanduin Castle, Lismore, Argyll (NGR: NM 8043 3927), over six seasons from 1970 to 1975 under the direction of the late Dennis John Turner (1932–2013), henceforward referred to as DJT. Partly funded by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and with tools and equipment loaned by RCAHMS (now Historic Environment Scotland), the work was carried out in support of the RCAHMS’s programme of survey in the Lorn district of Argyll. Its purpose was to examine an apparently little-altered but much-ruined example of a castle of enclosure ascribable to a small but identifiably distinct group of rectangular, or near rectangular, courtyard castles. DJT concluded that it was built c 1295–1310 by the MacDougalls, and only later passed to the bishops of Argyll. The authors add their own observations on the excavations in a separate section. They note tenuous evidence for a pre-castle phase. The bulk of the report focuses on the erection and occupation of the castle, followed by abandonment, post-medieval occupation, collapse/demolition and recent times.
Highlights
As seasonal work on the Achanduin excavation progressed between 1970 and 1975, information was provided to the RCAHMS team conducting the Argyll survey and summary updates were posted annually in Discovery and Excavation Scotland
C14 dating at Baliscate, Mull suggests that this style is of a medieval date
As with the study of the medieval and later pottery industries on the Scottish mainland, the absence of excavated production centres is one of the biggest problems that needs to be addressed. Both the authors of this report feel that one step on the route to dealing with this would be to chemically source samples of the glazed wheel-made wares from sites on the West Coast and Islands that are found in association with hand-made wares as beginning to source the origin of the wheel-made wares will help to begin a form a chronology that can be tested by further work
Summary
Elevation of external (north-west) face of south-east (hall) range in excavated Area II. View from west of exposed external face of south-east (hall) range in excavated Area II, September 1970. Excavated Area VII from south-east, August 1972, showing castle entrance with drain to left and ‘cobble’ surface exposed. Interior of courtyard from south-west, 1972 and published in 1975 in RCAHMS, Inventory of Argyll, 2, Plate 38A. Masons’ marks as published at 1:5 scale in 1975 in RCAHMS, Inventory of Argyll, 2, Fig. 161; 24. Cathedral of St Moluag and Parish Church, Lismore: masons’ marks as published in 1975 in RCAHMS, Inventory of Argyll, 2, Fig. 151. Intra-mural stair in north-east wall, 1970 and published in 1975 in RCAHMS, Inventory of Argyll, 2, Plate 37B. First-floor plan as surveyed in 1971 and published in 1975 in RCAHMS, Inventory of Argyll, 2, Fig. 160
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
