From The Neolithic To The Sea: A Journey From The Past To The Present

Rispain Camp

Statistics
Category
County
Coordinates
Grid
Condition
Age
Admission
Hillfort
Dumfries and Galloway
54° 43′ 47.23″ N 4° 26′ 26.08″ W
NX4286339944
Fair
100 BC
Free
Map


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Rispain Camp is a small fortified farmstead located close to Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway.

The defences are well preserved, until the mid-1970s archaeologists believed the site to be either a Roman fort or mediaeval farmstead. Excavations in the early 1980s provided evidence that it was inhabited between the 100 BC and 200 AD by local farmers. Radiocarbon dating has provided evidence that the site was definitely occupied around 60 BC.

The excavation revealed traces of a timber gateway to the north east, which would have been connected to a timber stockade running along the top of the inner rampart. There was also evidence of large timber roundhouses inside the enclosure, one of which is thirteen and a half metres in diameter. In the ditch's south eastern corner excavation uncovered a square pit, possibly a cistern.

Today it consists of two broad earth banks separated by a ditch, originally almost six metres deep surrounding an enclosure of almost half a hectare. It is in the care of Historic Scotland and is a scheduled ancient monument.