In Perthshire, the hill called Barryhill, in the parish of Meigle, seems to have been fortified with particular care.
Dr Playfair thus describes it cg Its summit was levelled into an area 180 feet long, and 72 broad. Around the area, a mound of earth was raised from 6 to 8 feet high, and 10 to 12 broad at top. On this mound a wall of Freestone was built, without any cement whatever. The foundation of the wall was composed of rough granite, and still re mains. It is of the same breadth with the summit of the mound ; but the height of the wall cannot be known. Gor don's estimate of it is very erroneous. Among the ruins there are several pieces of vitrified stone ; but these vi trifications must have been accidental, as they are few and inconsiderable. Along the west and north borders of the area, are barracks or huts of dry stone, and sufficiently sheltered by the mound and wall ; but no structures of this sort can be traced in the south part of the area. As the north and west sides of the hill are steep, and of difficult access, there was no need of an outer ditch in these quar ters; but towards the south and east, where the hill gently slopes, there is a ditch 10 feet broad, and 12 to 16 feet be low the foundation of the wall. At the S. E. extremity of the fort, a narrow bridge was raised over the ditch, 18 feet long, and 2 broad, except towards each end, where the breadth was increased. It was composed of stones, laid to gether without much art, and vitrified above, below, and on both sides, so that the whole mass was firmly cemented. That an opening was left below, after the process was finished, is doubtful. On the upper part of the bridge, a stratum of gravel was laid, to render the passage smooth and easy. This is the sole part of the fort intentionally vitrified. A few yards distant from the ditch, there is an outer wall, the foundation of which is about eight feet lower than the summit of the mound. The approach to the fort is from the north-east, along the verge of a precipice ; and the entrance was secured by a bulwark of stone, the ruins of which are extant. There is no vestige of a well within the fort ; but, westward, between the basis of the mound and the precipice, there was a deep pond or lake, recently filled up by the tenants in that neighbourhood. About a quarter of a mile eastward, on the declivity of the hill, there are some remains of.another oval fort, of less extent than the preceding, consisting of a strong wall and ditch. Tra dition says that there was a subterraneons communication between these forts, which is not improbable." We could have wished that more particular attention had been given to what is denominated a bridge in the foregoing descrip tion. From the circumstance of this vitrified mass cross ing the ditch, Dr Playfair is satisfied that it must have been used as a bridge ; but he afterwards decidedly says that the approach to the fort was on the north-east side, while this bridge is at the south-cast extremity. We are inclined to think, that, at this side, the south-east was found the most convenient spot for making signals, and that the vitrified mass was raised, in 4der to allow of a fire being kindled on either side, according to the direction of the wind. The
plausibility of this conjecture, we must leave to the deci sion of future observers.
From a bill called Laws, near the village of Drumstur dynmir, about five miles north-east from Dundee, there is an extensive view orthe sea and adjacent country. The area on thimtunmit is 133 yards in length, and 66 in breadth ; an 11 round it are to be seen the vestiges of a broad rampart. On the east end, from which the most ex tensive view is seen, are large masses of vitrified stones. The Rev. Mr Roger, who gives a Short description of this fort in the Statistical Account of Scotland, states his opinion that these vitrifications have been produced by the frequent lighting of signal fires.
The vitrifications on the hill called Top of Noth, have already been noticed, on account of their being found only on the inside of the ramparts, a fact confirmed by several authorities. The following description we met with acci dentally in a MS. the writer of which appears to have been Mr Leith of \Vhitehangh. tg The summit, on all sides, presents to a person who approaches it, a-sloping mound, or pile of loose stones, of different sizes and shapes, few of them larger than a man may lift with both hands, though some few are ten times that bulk. When you get on the top of this mound, or enter by an opening in the east end of it, you discover that it does not consist of a heap of such stones so as to make a large cairn, but that there is an open area of grass ground in the middle, which may be about 60 yards long, by 25 wide. The mound of stones which sur rounds this space has, on the inside, the appearance of a thick strong wall that had for a long time been in ruins. The height of these ruins above the inner area is pretty uniform, and may be from 9 to 12 feet. A slight inspection dis covers, that what has the appearance of a ruinous wall, has never been connected together by any cement, as no thing of that sort can be discovered where it might most probably be found. But, at the same time, you perceive that very large masses have been formed by the union of smaller stones fused by the force of fire in various de grees." In the same county is the hill of Dun o'Dcer, in the vale of Garioch, on which there are also vitrifications; and, as on Dun Creich, the remains of a building constructed with lime mortar. This tower is of larger dimensions, and of greater strength, than that on Dun Creich, being 60 feet square, and the walls about 12 feet in thickness. Hence it appears to have served the double purpose of a watch tower and a strong hold. This tower is evidently of more modern date than the vitrifications, part of which have been used in its construction. This circumstance, how ever, does not militate against the supposition, that the hill was used as a signal-station after the tower was built.