There are over 50 duns on Islay – circular stone built structures often located on the tops of crags or coastal promontories. These were built during the Iron Age, probably in a response to climate change and population pressure. Whether they were all constructed at the same time or gradually over many generations is unknown. But Islay Heritage’s excavations at Dun Funn on the Ardtalla estate has shown that Islay has the earliest known dun in Argyll, with Dun Fhinn constructed in the late 6th or 5th century BC – about 2500 years ago.
A full report on the excavations will be published in the Proceedings of the Antiquaries of Scotland in December 2022.