Dun Deardail fort rebuilt brick by brick
An ancient hill fort in Glen Nevis, Dun Deardail, which was destroyed around 2,500 years ago has been recreated using thousands of pieces of LEGO.
Brick to the Past, a team specialising in historically-themed LEGO models, used 35,000 pieces to recreate a model of the famous hill fort that was constructed on a prominent knoll on Sgorr Chalum, a hill overlooking the River Nevis in Glen Nevis. The model, commissioned by the Nevis Landscape Partnership, is now on permanent display at the Ben Nevis Visitor Centre, overlooked by the real Dun Deardail on one side and Ben Nevis on the other. Model builder Dan Harris began his research for the LEGO model in December last year and started building it at his home in Nethy Bridge in late January before completing it in mid-August.
Dun Deardail is thought to have been built and occupied, perhaps over several periods, between 700 BC and AD 900 and is unusual because the stones that once made up its walls have been vitrified.
Vitrification is the process by which stones are fused together at temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Celsius. It is uncertain why vitrification took place, but current theories tend to see it as either an act of aggression following capture or as ‘ritual closure’ at the end of the site’s active life, akin to the destruction of many Neolithic ritual monuments.
Nevis Landscape Partnership has been running an ambitious project to excavate the Dun Deardail and, working closely with Forestry Commission Scotland and AOC Archaeology, it aims to uncover the mysteries surrounding this ancient settlement. The project has recruited hundreds of ‘citizen archaeologists’ to get involved in the work.
The LEGO version of Dun Deardail reflects what the hill fort might have looked like early in the first millennium AD.
Dan said: ‘I’ve been visiting Glen Nevis for years to walk and climb so it’s an absolute delight to have been able to build a model of one of its landmarks. It’s great to be able to display at one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations and I hope the model will encourage people to get out and explore the real hill fort.’
Funding to build the model was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Highland Council Discretionary Fund.