258 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Vitrified Forts of Scotland, 



a ground plan of the work, as well as I could determine it by pacing, 

 and without tools to clear away the sod. Those who have seen simi- 

 lar works know how completely they are sometimes covered with 

 the soil ; a circumstance which, as I have just noticed, perhaps more 

 decidedly than any other, marks their high antiquity. Imperfect 

 however as their traces generally are, the drawing will serve to 

 show a very peculiar form in that which is the subject of the 

 present paper, and a plan differing much from the uniformity of 

 structure and rudeness of design which have been supposed to dis- 

 tinguish these works. 



The long narrow hill on which it stands is nearly precipitous 

 along three quarters of its circumference ; at the other end it rises 

 from the plain with a very accessible acclivity. By inspecting the 

 plan, it will be seen that a series of parallelogramic v^'orks have 

 been constructed so as nearly to cover the principal and precipitous 

 part of it to the very edge. The greater portion of the hill being 

 thus occupied by two of these works, the strongest part was cut off 

 by a wall from the more accessible end, thus forming a sort 

 of citadel or place of retreat at the last extremity, a practice very 

 common in the ancient peninsular fortifications of Cornwall, in 

 Castle Trereen for example, and in a similar castle at Zenor. To 

 occupy and defend the vulnerable side of this position, the outer 

 work appears to have been placed without the principal area, that 

 from it the enemy might be seen and opposed in every part of his 

 ascent. This disposition bears incontrovertible marks of military 

 design and experience. Were a modern engineer to defend Dun 

 Mac Sniochain, he could do little more than build a fort to occupy 

 the ground and contain his men, erecting an out-work to command 

 the approach. 



I have thus particularly detailed the military relations of this 



