The April 2016 excavation on Dunnicaer Promontory.
Images
5x5 dig.
Lower fort terrace.
Work restarts at the site.
This photograph, taken from the cliffs to the southeast, clearly shows the “missing link” where the present-day Dunnicaer Sea Stack was once joined to the mainland.
View over Dunnicaer Promontory Fort from the neighbouring clifftops.
Dunnicaer from the south showing the effects of centuries of erosion on its cliffs.
View over Dunnicaer Sea Stack from the west.
The impressive prow of Dunnicaer viewed from the beach.
The impressive Dunnicaer Sea Stac k, viewed from below the cliffs.
The archaeological dig on the Dunnicaer Stack.
Archaeologists from Aberdeen University making the first exploratory dig on this Pictish fort.
Articles
Radiocarbon dating shows the Dunnicaer fort to have belonged to the 3rd/4th centuries CE.
This report appeared in Herald Scotland on July 28, 2015..
Visited: April 17, 2015
During April 2015, a team of archaeologists from Aberdeeen University uncovered what they believed to be the remains of a Pictish Promontory Fort on this sea stack, some 700 metres north of Dunnottar Castle. Early indications were that they had discovered the remains of a house, a fireplace and ramparts.
A glance at this Google Map of the area leaves one in little doubt that the Dunnicaer Stack was once attached to the mainland, probably by a long-fallen natural arch.
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In all probability, like the crags at the western end of the neighbouring beach, which are already cut through by a natural arch, Dunnicaer was similarly connected to the shore in Pictish times. This would have provided relatively easy access to the fort via a ridge from the west. But in the centuries since, the arch has crumbled, isolating the stack which is now inaccessible without specialist equipment.
To visit the site, park at Dunnottar Castle, but instead of taking the steps down to the castle entrance, head left along the clifftops. You have the choice of a good, fairly direct track, or a narrow walkers path that hugs the cliff edge. From the point where you draw level with the Dunnicaer Stack, gentle grassy slopes lead down to the shore.
“On the coast of Aberdeenshire lies the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, a 7th century Pictish power centre. Nearby is Dunnicaer, an unassuming and substantially eroded sea stack. Dunnicaer contains evidence to suggest it was an even earlier power center of the Picts.
This film explores the investigations conducted by Aberdeen University into the site, and helps uncover it’s mysterious past.....”
Sites within 20km of Dunnicaer
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Dunnottar Castle
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Gallow Hill (Stonehaven)
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Malcolm’s Mount
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Spurryhillock
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Fetteresso
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Ury North Lodge
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North Lodge
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Fetteresso Castle
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The Hawk Stone
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Kempstone Hill Cairn
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Kempstone Hill
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Houff Of Ury
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Cantlayhills
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Findlayston
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Druidsdale
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Castle Rock of Muchalls
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Allochie
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Glenton South
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Bruxie Hill
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Square’s Knap
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Glenton Hill
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Glenton North
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Carmont Hill
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Raedykes
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Mitton Hill
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Fetteresso Forest
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Auquhollie Stone
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Blackhill Wood
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Leys of Barras
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Moray Stone
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Montgoldrum
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Montgoldrum
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Montgoldrum
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Montgoldrum
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Northward
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Elsick Mounth
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Cluseburn
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Wood Of Mergie
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Hilton of Cairngrassie
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Millplough
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Millplough
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Whiteside
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Old Bourtreebush
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Hillhead
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The Shields
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Aquhorthies
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Bervie Brow
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Court Stane
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Stranog Hill 1
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Stranog Hill 2
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Cot Hillock
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Auchlee
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Castle Dykes
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Cairn-Mon-Earn
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West Brachmont
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Auchlee
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Cowden
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Droop Hill
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Cairnwell Ring Cairn
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Hobseat
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Knock Hill (Glenbervie)
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Broad Havens
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Standingstones
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Craighead
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Clune Hill
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Clune Wood
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Standingstones Kerb Cairn
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Clune Wood
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Clune Wood
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Altries
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Blaikiewell
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Oldman Hill
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Upper Balfour 4
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Upper Balfour 3
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Upper Balfour
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Upper Balfour 2
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Kirkton Wood
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Gourdon Hill
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Cairn Of Arthurhouse
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Middle Knox
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Cairnfauld
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Kenshot East
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The Sutor’s Mither
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Castle Hill (Auchenblae)
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Blue Hill (Banchory-Devenick)
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Westerton
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Bogton (Drumoak)
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Philla Cairn
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Kenshot Hill
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Mulloch Hill (Strachan)
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Haremuir
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Brodie Wood
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Cairnshee Woods
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Katie’s Cairn
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Nine Stanes
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Esslie the Lesser
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Parknook
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Binghill
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Esslie the Greater
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Binghill West
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Binghill East
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Banchory House
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North Shiels
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Tollohill Wood
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Drum Castle
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Cairnlee Cairn
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Kincorth Hill East
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Dalmuinzie Farm, Boundary Marker 16
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Blarourie Ring Cairn
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Shiels
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Cairn Of Shiels
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Balbridie
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Tilquhillie
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Crathes Castle
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Hilton Farm, Boundary Marker 18
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Knappach East
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Blarourie
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Paul Mathew Hill
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Kerloch Hill
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The Knappach
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Knappach West
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Kincorth Hill
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Cults Stone Circle (Site of)
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Westfield
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The Floors
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Beans Hill
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Denwood
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Moorlands
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Woodbine Cottage
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Beans Hill, Boundary Marker 23
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Hillhead Of Maryfield
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The Cloch
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Barnhill
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Crathes Castle Policies
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Cat Cairn
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Cat Cairn 2
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East Brotherfield, Boundary Marker 25
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Blacktop Wood
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Blacktop
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Den Wood
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Bridgeton Hill Cairn
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