Castle MacEwen

The archaeological remains at Castle MacEwen reveal a layered history of construction, adaptation, and defensive strategies. The site’s layout shows the progression from an early palisaded enclosure, likely consisting of wooden stakes forming a perimeter, to a more robust promontory fort built on the same location. This fort utilized natural cliffs and steep slopes for defense, supplemented by man-made earthworks.

Excavations uncovered large rectangular stones integrated into the walls during the medieval homestead phase, strengthening the original fortifications. These stones were added to the existing structures, demonstrating a deliberate reuse of earlier defensive elements within the domestic setting. Alongside the walls, two passages leading down to the sea were discovered on opposite sides of the fort, suggesting controlled access points to the water and providing insight into transportation or supply methods connected to the site.

Evidence of heating or burning was found in the form of vitrified material within the fort’s remains, indicating that parts of the structure were exposed to intense heat at some point, potentially during conflict or deliberate clearing. Postholes identified as dating from the 15th and 16th centuries suggest the presence of timber buildings within the fort’s enclosure during these later periods.

One notable structure uncovered near the entrance rampart was a round house featuring a cobbled stone floor, probably used for storage. In addition, an unusual building with a shape resembling that of a boat was found just outside the main defensive walls. Although no artifacts were recovered from these buildings, their forms contribute to understanding the site’s layout and the functions assigned to different areas within and around the fortifications. All archaeological finds, including pottery shards from the 13th to 18th centuries, a 12th-century crucifix, and a 15th-century coin known as a groat, have been preserved at the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum.