Rubha an Dùnain
Encyclopedia
Rubha an Dùnain or Rubh' an Dùnain is an uninhabited peninsula to the south of the Cuillin
hills on the island of Skye
in Scotland. This headland rises to over 30 metres (98.4 ft) above sea level. Loch na h-Airde is a body of freshwater that is situated to the east of the peninsula close to the sea shore. To its north is Camas a' Mhùrain (bay of the marram grass).
There is a variety of archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic
onwards. The name of the peninsula is Gaelic—the meaning of Rubha an Dùn is evidently "headland of the fort" but the last syllable is less clear. In a different context, Mac an Tàilleir suggests Dunain may mean either "bird's hill" or "John's fort".
from the 2nd or 3rd millennium BC and a passage grave
. A dun
to the south of the loch is likely to be of Iron Age
provenance.
s to exit at high tide. It is now believed that the loch was an important site for maritime activity for many centuries, spanning the Viking
and later periods of Scottish clan rule.
In 2011 RCAHMS launched air surveys in the hope of discovering additional artefacts. Marine archaeologist Colin Martin stated: "This site has enormous potential to tell us about how boats were built, serviced and sailed on Scotland's western seaboard in the medieval period - and perhaps during the early historic and prehistoric eras as well... There is no other site quite like this in Scotland."
of the 1860s.
Cuillin
This article is about the Cuillin of Skye. See Rùm for the Cuillin of Rùm.The Cuillin are a range of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The true Cuillin are also known as the Black Cuillin to distinguish them from the Red Hills across Glen Sligachan...
hills on the island of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
in Scotland. This headland rises to over 30 metres (98.4 ft) above sea level. Loch na h-Airde is a body of freshwater that is situated to the east of the peninsula close to the sea shore. To its north is Camas a' Mhùrain (bay of the marram grass).
There is a variety of archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
onwards. The name of the peninsula is Gaelic—the meaning of Rubha an Dùn is evidently "headland of the fort" but the last syllable is less clear. In a different context, Mac an Tàilleir suggests Dunain may mean either "bird's hill" or "John's fort".
Prehistoric remains
There is a variety of archaeological sites on the peninsula. To the north are the remains of prehistoric settlements dating from the Neolithic, including a chambered cairnChambered cairn
A chambered cairn is a burial monument, usually constructed during the Neolithic, consisting of a cairn of stones inside which a sizeable chamber was constructed. Some chambered cairns are also passage-graves....
from the 2nd or 3rd millennium BC and a passage grave
Passage grave
thumb|250px|right|A simple passage tomb in [[Carrowmore]] near [[Sligo]] in IrelandA passage grave or passage tomb consists of a narrow passage made of large stones and one or multiple burial chambers covered in earth or stone. Megaliths are usually used in the construction of passage tombs, which...
. A dun
Dun
Dun is now used both as a generic term for a fort and also for a specific variety of Atlantic roundhouse...
to the south of the loch is likely to be of Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
provenance.
Loch na h-Airde
It had been known for some time that an artificial "Viking canal" had been constructed at some point in the past along the length of the stream that runs from the loch to the sea. In 2009 archaeologists discovered boat timbers dated to the 12th century, a stone-built quay in the loch and a system to maintain a constant water level in the loch. The shallow "canal" allowed for boats such as birlinnBirlinn
The birlinn was a type of boat used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Birlinn is a Norse-Gaelic variant on the Norse longship. Variants of the name in English and Lowland Scots include "berlin" and "birling". It probably derives ultimately from the...
s to exit at high tide. It is now believed that the loch was an important site for maritime activity for many centuries, spanning the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
and later periods of Scottish clan rule.
In 2011 RCAHMS launched air surveys in the hope of discovering additional artefacts. Marine archaeologist Colin Martin stated: "This site has enormous potential to tell us about how boats were built, serviced and sailed on Scotland's western seaboard in the medieval period - and perhaps during the early historic and prehistoric eras as well... There is no other site quite like this in Scotland."
Later occupation
In the post-Viking era Rubha an Dùnain was the home of Clan MacAskill and the peninsula contains the ruins of a small township, including an 18th-century tacksman's house. The area was occupied until the clearancesHighland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
of the 1860s.