Dun Evan facts for kids
 Dun Evan
Location in Inverness area
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| Alternative name | Doune of Cawdor |
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| Coordinates | 57°30′11″N 3°57′29″W / 57.5030°N 3.9581°W |
| Type | Hill fort |
| Length | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Width | 25 metres (82 ft) |
| Height | 678 feet (207 m) AOD |
| History | |
| Material | Stone, earth |
Dun Evan, also called the Doune of Cawdor, is an ancient hill fort in Scotland. It is located about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) southwest of Cawdor. This fort sits on a rocky hill that rises to 678 feet (207 meters) above sea level. It is positioned between two valleys, the River Nairn and its smaller stream, the Allt Dearg.
From Dun Evan, you can see far in every direction. The view reaches all the way to the town of Nairn, about 7 miles (11 kilometers) away. Nairn is on the coast of the Moray Firth. Dun Evan is so important that Historic Environment Scotland has made it a Scheduled monument. This means it is a nationally protected historical site.
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Exploring Dun Evan: An Ancient Scottish Fort
Dun Evan is a fascinating example of an ancient hill fort. These forts were often built on high ground. This allowed people to see enemies approaching from a distance. They also provided a strong defensive position.
The Main Walls of the Fort
A ruined wall circles the very top of the hill at Dun Evan. This wall encloses an area about 58 meters (190 feet) long and 25 meters (82 feet) wide. Today, the wall is about 0.4 meters (1.3 feet) high on the inside. It has spread out to a width of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
In 1963, experts found special stones on the wall's outer surface. They also saw signs of vitrification. This is when stone is heated so much that it turns into a glassy material. This process made the walls even stronger. A dip in the wall on the northeast side likely shows where the main entrance was.
Inside the Fort's Defenses
There is another wall inside the main one. This inner wall encloses a smaller part of the hilltop. It was probably built later, using stones from the older, outer defenses. The smaller size of the stones in these inner walls suggests they might have been reinforced with timber. This is called "timber-laced" construction.
Within the fort, there is a circular dip in the ground. It is about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) across and 0.6 meters (2 feet) deep. People believe this was either a well or a cistern. It would have provided water for the people living inside the fort.
Outer Defenses and Earthworks
Beyond the main walls, Dun Evan has more defenses further down the hill. To the southwest, there is a curved section of ruined wall and earthworks. This arc is about 180 feet (55 meters) long. To the northeast, there is a similar arc about 130 feet (40 meters) long.
Inside the northeast arc, there is another strong defensive wall. In 1957, this wall was measured to be up to 14 feet (4.3 meters) high. It stretched about 60 feet (18 meters) back towards the southern point of the rock. This wall was connected to the outer arc by two parallel walls. These walls were about 25 to 35 feet (7.6 to 10.7 meters) apart. Together, they formed a rectangular shape. These larger walls might have been part of a building or extra strong cross-walls.
