Blair Collection > Place names in Strathbogie, with notes historical, antiquarian and descriptive

TJie Fort on the Tap o Noth. 37
the rampart. (4) That the second section, which
was on the west side of the fort, where fusion and
burning were most noticeable, showed precisely
the same structure as the first, and that below
the surface there was no appearance of the direct
action of fire in any part, nor were there any
remains of vitrified wall, or vitrified foundation.
The rampart at this point was 25 feet wide at the
base, and about 6 feet high. (5) That under all
the fused masses, stones unaffected by fire were
found, presenting in every way the same form-
ation as shown by the sections. (6) That the
entrance roadway, which is 20 to 25 yards long,
2 to 3 yards wide, and at the upper end i yard
high, is made up of the same material, thrown
together in the same manner as the ramparts.
From these observations I infer that the
vitrifaction is not of design, and formed no part
of the original purpose in construction. If it was
the intention to bind the material together, even
on the surface, except to a very limited extent
it thoroughly failed. The action of the fire has
split up the unfused stones, and these have in
course of time fallen down, undermining the
fused masses, which have slipped from their
original position, and now appear here and there
on the sides of the ramparts. These old fort-
builders, judging by the work they actually did,
were not likely to rest satisfied with an under-
taking half accomplished. It seems to me hard