260 Dr. Mac Culloch 07i the Vitrified Forts of Scotland. 



which were used for signals. The supporters of this opinion have 

 asserted that they always occupy the highest elevation, and that 

 many of them are so placed as to be visible from each other. This 

 is not true. The fort at Amworth is not on the highest ground 

 it might have occupied, nor is the fort of Dun Mac Sniochain so 

 situated : but they are both on the strongest ground. Where the 

 strongest and highest ground coincide, a case very common in hilly 

 countries, (I speak of military strength of ground as connected with 

 ancient modes of warfare) there, as at Craig Phadric, they naturally 

 occupy the summit. I may add, that no fort has hitherto been dis- 

 covered between this and Craig Phadric, except that at Dun 

 Dheairduihl, nor have any been observed in its neighbourhood in 

 other directions. I might strengthen this argument by referrinj^ 

 to the descriptions of other similar works, but I prefer arguing 

 from those which I have seen. 



It now remains to enquire, if by any examination of the walls 

 of Dun Mac Sniochain, light can be thrown on the causes of its 

 vitrified appearance, and whether it was the result of design or 

 of accident. 



The remains of walls in the other vitrified forts, noticed by dif- 

 ferent observers, have been so well described, as far as relates to their 

 general appearance, that Httle can be added on this head. It may be 

 sufficient to say, that they appear in the present work to be about 

 twelve feet in thickness, and are now nearly buried under the soil. 



One circumstance however requires attention, as some false spe- 

 culations have been founded on it. Both the outside and inside of 

 the walls near the ground are rendered much thicker than their true 

 measurement shows, by a heap of loose stones accumulated against 

 them, and this renders it difficult in the present state of things 

 to ascertain their real dimensions. It has been supposed that this- 



