La matriz PyACTS

Of all the enclosed sites that are located in the Kintyre study area we can see that the majority, representing some 84%, enclose areas of less than 0.25Ha in extent (Table 6). There are also a smaller number of more moderate sized sites, enclosing areas of between 0.25Ha and 0.5Ha in extent, representing 13% of the total number (Fig 80). In addition to these sites, and as was seen found in the other case study areas, there is one massive site in the area, at Cnoc Araich, which encloses an area of 2.8Ha in extent. This site, which as shall be explored in more detail below, appears to represent a very different form of site compared to the more usual dry-stone walled sites that are found in this area.

Fig 80 Size of the enclosed sites in Kintyre

As can be seen in the graph above (Fig 81) Kintyre is dominated by small enclosed sites. The graph also clearly highlights the difference in the size of the site at Cnoc Araich, which is the largest in the area, compared to most of the other sites in the area. With this site removed from the graph a clearer picture of the range of the different sizes of enclosed sites can be seen (Fig 82). Given the settlement landscape of Kintyre is dominated by small enclosed sites, this suggests, at first glance, that the way the landscape of Kintyre was occupied was different from other parts of the wider region. This could lead to suggestions that different social

84.09%

164 and cultural traditions were adopted in this area compared, to other parts of west central Scotland. That being said, the Clyde area does display a similar range of sites, of the same size, to those in Kintyre. In both case study areas there are proportionally higher numbers of small enclosed sites compared to the more moderate and larger sized sites. As such, it could be suggested that the sites recorded in the Clyde area provide the closest parallels to the Kintyre region. In addition, as shall be explored in the Chapter Six, even though the Kintyre area has proportionality more small enclosed sites compared to other parts of the region, it appears that the way these sites were enclosed, the shapes in which they defined and their entrance orientations are in fact very similar to other regions, suggesting that there was a continuum of architectural and cultural traditions across the region.

Fig 81 Rank size plot of the enclosed sites in Kintyre

Fig 82 Rank size plot of the enclosed sites in Kintyre not including Cnoc Araich 0.00

Size of Enclosed Sites of Kintyre

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Size of Enclosed Sites of Kintyre

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Fig 83 Distrabution of different sized enclosed sites in Kintyre

When we look at the distribution of sites in Kintyre (Fig 83) a number of interesting patterns emerge. The first to highlight is that the majority of these sites are located on higher ground overlooking the fertile low lying areas. This suggests that these sites have been deliberately constructed in these locations so that they can take full advantage of the limited amount of good arable land. This settlement pattern can be seen most clearly around the Laggan, the most fertile area of Kintyre. This area

166 appears to have supported a larger population and distribution of sites, all of which appear to have been positioned above this fertile plain, presumably in order to allow access to farmland without occupying this valuable resource. This pattern of settlement can also be seen along the east and west coasts of the peninsula, where sites are located on the hills above the fertile lowland fringes, which are sandwiched in a thin strip between the hills and the sea.

Fig 84 Cnoc Araich (Drawn by Author after RCAHMS 1971)

It can clearly be seen (Fig 83) that, as expected, the small enclosed sites dominate the landscape. The distribution of these sites are particularly concentrated along the east and west coast of the peninsula, as well as around the Mull of Kintyre, while the largest concentration of sites are found on the North side of the Laggan between Campbeltown Loch in the east and across the peninsula to Machrihanish in the west. There appears to be two distinct clusters of site in this area, each of which has a moderate sized site on its outer edge. The social and cultural implications of these distributions shall be explored in the next section, but it is

167 tempting to suggest that we are seeing a clear grouping or clustering of a community in these areas, with a series of small, possible family units, clustering around a larger, possible central place of a local elite or extended family head or chief. There is also a significant concentration of sites along the southern edge of the Laggan, including the site of Balloch Hill, which was excavated in the 1970’s (Peltenburg 1983), which produced some of the most important and reliable evidence for Iron Age activity in the area. The distribution of the other small and moderately sized sites along the east and west coast of the peninsula, and around the coast of The Mull of Kintyre, does not follow this pattern and these sites appear to be much more isolated from each other.

The largest site in Kintyre, at Cnoc Araich (Fig 84), is located in relative isolation from the other sites in the area, close to the south coast of the peninsula. It sits at the southern end of the Conie Glen, which is the main communication route from the southern coast to the Laggan plain. The site dominates a large and prominent hill that commands extensive views of the sea as well as over the most fertile area of arable land in the Mull of Kintyre, known as Southend. The sites location, at the head of the valley as well as its dominance over the extensive area of good arable land suggests that it was an important place when it was constructed, though whether it deserves the title of an “minor oppidum” (RCAHMS 1971, 16), is debatable, and is an issue that shall be returned to in Chapter Nine.

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Fig 85 Simplified plan of the Sites in Kintyre. 1: Kildonan 2: Dunan 3: North Craigs 4: Cullan Doon 5:

Glenreggan 6: Cnoc Eibhleach 7: Achnaclach 8: Rubh nan Sgrarbh 9: Balnagleck 10: Largiemore 11: Carradale 12: Glenehervie 13: Kildalloig 14: Ranachan 15: Scalbart 16: Ballywilline 17: Kildonan Point. (Drawn by

Author after RCAHMS 1971)