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MHG24984 - An Sithean, Dalnavert

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Full Description

Members of the B&S Local History Group have for several years been interested in an impressive ridge rising from the flat haugh of the River Spey. The mound is 5-7m high, 30m wide and roughly 80m in overall length, with the crest being 37m long. The mound is known as An Sithean, 'the fairy mound', and the group believe that it is the possible burial place of a Norse king, Harald, who was killed in a battle with Nechtan, king of the Picts. Attention is drawn to the placename, Dunachton, (Nechtan's Fort) located across the Strath on the northern side, where there is also a 'Harald's Hill', Creag Righ Tharailt. In 729, in a separate battle, Nechtan's Picts were defeated near Loch Insh by Angus, son of Fergus and the Pictish officers slaughtered. Dalnavert, according to Watson (1926, 242), is derived from Dail na bhfeart, 'dale of the graves'.
Jonathan Wordsworth conducted a limited trial trenching of the mound, which did not produce any indication of it being artificial in any way. However, the area investigated was a small percentage of the total area.
The cost of conducting geophysical survey on a feature as large as this would prevent any such investigation being conducted. It therefore remains as a spectacular, natural feature, with local associations to an early historical battle between Norse and Picts.
Information from Dr. Iain Glenn, Sept. 1999. See Ass. Docs. For full report, etc.

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 84601 06005 (25m by 68m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH80NW
Civil Parish	ALVIE
Geographical Area	BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY

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