Vitrified Fort

No Lime or Cement has been found in any of these structures, all of them presenting the peculiarity of being more or less consolidated by the fusion of the rocks of which they are built. This fusion, which has been caused by the application of intense heat, is not equally complete in the various forts, or even in the walls of the same fort. In some cases the stones are only partially melted and calcined; in others their adjoining edges are fused so that they are firmly cemented together; in many instances pieces of rock are enveloped in a glassy enamel-like coating which binds them into a uniform whole; and at times, though rarely, the entire length of the wall presents one solid mass of vitreous substance.

Since John Williamsone of the earliest of British geologists, and author of The Mineral Kingdom first described these singular ruins in 1777 , about fifty examples have been discovered in Scotland. The most remarkable are:

Dun Mac Sniachan ( Dun Mac Uisneachain or Dun Macsnoichan), the ancient Beregoiium, Benderloch , north of Oban , ;

Craig Phadraig, or Phadrick, near Inverness ;

Ord Hill, Kessock, near Inverness

Dun Dhardhail (Dunjardil) in Glen Nevis ;

Knockfarrel (or Knockfarrail), near Strathpeffer , ;

Dun Creich, in Sutherland , ;

Finavon (or Finhaven), near Aberlemno ;

Barryhill, in Perthshire;

Laws, near Dundee , ;

Dun Gall and Burnt Islands , in Buteshire;

Anwoth, near Gatehouse Of Fleet , ;

Tap O' Noth , Aberdeenshire ; and

Cowdenknowes, in Berwickshire , .

Dun Mac Tjisneachain is the largest in area, being 250 yds. long by 50 yds. broad.

For a long time it was supposed that these forts were peculiar to Scotland ; but they are found also in Londonderry and Cavan , in Ireland ; in Upper Lusatia, Bohemia , Silesia, Saxony and Thuringia; in the provinces on the Rhine, especially in the neighbourhood of the Nahe; in the Ucker Lake, in Brandenburg, where the walls are formed of burnt and smelted bricks; in Hungary; and in several places in France, such as Chteauvieux, Peran, La Courbe, Sainte Suzanne, Puy de Gaudy and Thauron. They have not been found in England or Wales .

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Vitrified Fort