Excavation revealed a long-lived fortified settlement on this rocky headland, including a vitrified wall and rare evidence for later medieval life outside an elite centre.
Quick facts
- Date
- Later prehistoric to medieval; excavated in the 1970s
- Architect / designer
- Unknown communities across several periods
- Type
- Promontory fort with vitrified wall and multi-period occupation
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM11040)
- OS grid reference
- NJ 48874 68776
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The scheduled area covers the top of a narrow promontory, about 140 metres long and up to 50 metres wide. Investigated structures included defensive works and a heat-fused stone wall, while unexcavated ground is expected to retain further deposits.
Its story
People occupied and defended the headland during later prehistory and the early historic period. Excavation in the 1970s also identified medieval settlement, making the site more than a single-period fort.
Why it is included
Scheduling recognises both the demonstrated archaeology and the unusually broad chronological story preserved in ground that remains only partly examined.
What to notice
- The naturally defended promontory outline.
- Changes in slope around the fortified summit.
- How sea cliffs restrict approaches to the site.
Reading the surroundings
Follow recognised paths and keep well back from cliff edges. Do not disturb turf, exposed deposits or stonework, and obey any local barriers or warnings.
Timeline
- Later prehistory Communities fortified a naturally protected coastal headland.
- Early historic period Occupation continued and included a vitrified defensive wall.
- 1970s Excavation demonstrated a much longer sequence than surface remains suggested.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Only part of the promontory was excavated, so the full plans and exact dates of several occupation phases remain unresolved.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Green Castle, SM11040 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: SM11040 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NJ 48874 68776 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms record identity and archival context. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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