The Mote of Droughduil
The area around the village of Dunragit in Galloway contains one of the largest prehistoric ritual complexes in Britain. Aerial photography and excavation have enabled archaeologists to build up a picture of henges, processional roads and other features. These are mostly hidden below ground, but one major element of the complex is still visible today: an impressive artificial mound, standing between the main A75 highway and the railway, not far from the shore of the Solway Firth.
The mound is known as the Mote of Droughduil (or Droughdool). Until recently it was thought to be a motte – the base of a small castle – constructed in Norman times. An older theory suggested that it might be the presumed ‘Fort of Rheged’ which some people believe to be the origin of the name Dunragit. Rheged was a North British kingdom that flourished in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Its precise location is unknown but the most popular hypothesis sees it as encompassing lands on either side of the Solway.
Excavations conducted by a team from Manchester University during 1999-2002 confirmed that the Mote of Droughduil was built long before the kings of Rheged or the Norman lords of Galloway. It was a key nodal point in the prehistoric complex and seems to have been used as a viewing platform where important religious rituals could be observed. At some point, a ceremonial cairn was placed on the summit, and the mound itself was re-shaped to give a tiered or ‘stepped’ profile. To me, this re-shaping makes it reminiscent of the Doomster Hill at Govan, another ceremonial mound of artificial construction. Both sites were probably used for important public gatherings in very ancient times. Unfortunately, the Doomster Hill was destroyed in the name of Progress, and it now looks as if the Mote of Droughduil might be heading for a similar fate.
Permission has recently been given for a road-building project which will by-pass Dunragit village. The A75 is a very busy highway, much-used by heavy vehicles travelling to and from Stranraer (a major port for ferries between Scotland and Northern Ireland). I can understand, therefore, why people living along this route tend to support the construction of a by-pass. The trouble is, the new road at Dunragit will cut through the sacred landscape of prehistoric times. When the big machines start ripping up the hallowed earth, it’s hard to see how the Mote of Droughduil can survive.
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Notes
My thanks to Liz Roberts for sending me the link to Kenneth Roy’s article on this topic.
The Canmore database has an entry for the Mote of Droughduil. For recent information, see the report of the Manchester University excavations.
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Senchus 
Wow Tim, need to get over and have a look!
It’s certainly worth seeing, Thomas. And it’s only about 8 miles from the Early Christian carved stones at Kirkmadrine. Whithorn isn’t far away either.
Is it within range of Newton Stewart Tim ?
Just down the road, Mick. Probably about 17 miles.
It’s 7 miles from Stranraer , the “motte” still stands and you get a good view of it even if you’re driving through the old henges 😦
I always thought that Dunragit was more likely to be Din rhag coed – the fort by the wood, rather that Din Rheged….
Quite possible, Tony. And the fact that alternative meanings exist is adequate proof that we don’t really know what the name means. This uncertainty ought to discourage people from using Dunragit to make assumptions about the location and extent of Rheged.
There were woods all over the area so I fail to see why they would single “woods” out. Traditionaly Duns are named after tribes or people but I could be wrong.
Ringdoo point (dark woods) is the name of what’s left of the Scots pine forest. You could be right L.w. Waddell I think it was thought that it was to do with Rheged, the way we pronounce it I would say it’s a good bet.
What a fantastic site. Some Irish based possibilities re: the placenames…for what its worth:
Dunragit > Dún Reicheit > Dún Rec(c)aid: ‘The fort of selling/bartering/exchanging’…
Droughduil > Droch Dúil: ‘Dark/evil creature/element/being/essence’…
Thanks for this place-name info, Terry.
Being sceptical of the ‘Dun of Rheged’ theory I’m always glad to see alternative derivations for Dunragit. In the case of Droughduil, the possibility of an association with a dark or evil entity makes the mound seem even more mysterious and interesting.
Very interesting and most likely anti pagan Christian propaganda. However Ringdoo point as it’s called today with doo coming from dubh
Very interesting – another site I didn’t know about. I can’t believe that they would be allowed to drive a road through there – seriously?
Yes, I imagine the mound is likely to be destroyed, with little chance of a reprieve. I’m thinking of the way they build these by-passes – carving a swathe twice as wide as the road itself and levelling everything flat.
No! How can that happen? Surely there’s enough evidence to make sure it’s protected?
Sadly, it seems recognition as an ancient monument doesn’t provide watertight protection.
did doomster hill and tynwald serve the same purpose,? tynwald ,isle of man ,where two men called the deemsters made laws .
Yes, it seems all these artificial mounds were used for ceremonial purposes of one kind or another. The comparison between Tynwald Hill and Doomster Hill is especially close, as both had a similar ‘stepped’ shape and were associated with kings of the Viking period. Both were probably used as royal parliament hills at around the same time, by Manx Vikings and Strathclyde Britons respectively.
The mound survived the new road and amazing early artifacts were found by archeologists who were excavating the site before the building of the road. I do not have the details but definately worth some research if that is what you are interested in. There is a small mound I see when visiting Balloch o’dee campsite that seems quite interesting. I wish I had more information on this.
Thanks for this update, Caroline. Yes, it’s good to see that the mound has survived after all. In fact, I was hoping to get closer to it on a recent visit to Galloway but unfortunately just ended up whooshing past on the new section of the A75. The little mound you mention at Balloch o’Dee might be listed on the Canmore database if it’s a known antiquity.
Thank you. Just looked it up. File says it is a natural feature. Never mind.
Just as an update for you and others Tim. As Caroline stated above, the ‘mound’ is and will be safe from progress. The findings in and along the new by-pass route discovered important data and artefacts dating back to Neolithic/ Mesolithic period. http://www.guard-archaeology.co.uk/news/news14/DunragitNews.html The by-pass has now been completed and taken a slightly adjusted route to preserve the site.
This is good news Mike. Thanks for letting us know.