Dun an Achaidh takes its name from the Scottish GaelicAn t-Achadh, which translates into English as "the field". According to the early 20th century antiquary Erskine Beveridge, the dun was known in local tradition by the Scottish Gaelic name, Dun Bhorlum mhic Anlaimh righ Lochlinn. He gave two translations for this: "the fort of ridge of the son of Olaf, King of Norway"; or "the fort of Borlum, son of Olaf, King of Norway". Beveridge noted that borlum is an old Gaelic word meaning "ridge"; and that this thoroughly described the site of Dùn an Achaidh. According to Rev. Dugald MacEchern, borlum means "board-land", which is "the home farm of a residence or mansion". MacEchern also noted that the locals considered Borlum to be a personal name.
Location and description
Dùn an Achaidh is located about south-west of Acha Mill on Coll. Of all the duns on Coll, it is the second furthest from the shore. Dùn an Achaidh sits atop a rocky ridge which is high above the surrounding land which is drained by Allt a' Mhuilinn. Dùn an Achaidh is situated about south of the crannog, Dùn Anlaimh.
Ruins and archaeological finds
The wall of the dun is considered to have originally been about thick. It runs along a ridge on the ridge and encloses an area of, from north-east to south-west, by a maximum of. An entrance is located on the north-east end of the dun. The approach to this entrance is protected by a wall which lies about below the summit area. This wall measures, in area, ; and is made of large boulders. There have been several archaeological finds at the site; including decorated pottery, a slate whorl, and a stone pounder. These finds are now located in the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland.
History
Beveridge suggested that it was very likely that several of the duns of Coll, and the nearby island of Tiree, were occupied by the Norse during the Viking Age. He noted that the names that some of them bear; and in the cases of Dùn an Achaidh and nearby Dùn Anlaimh, the local traditions would also seem to confirm this. In 1587, atrocities committed between warring west highland clans had escalated to such an extent that the Scottish parliament devised what is known as the General Band, in an effort to quell hostilities. The band, or bond, was signed by landowners throughout the Scottish highlands, borders and the islands. The signing chiefs and landowners were required to come up with sureties equal to their wealth and lands for the peaceful conduct of their followers and those who lived upon their lands. One of the lists drawn up was titled "The roll of the names of the landislordis and baillies of landis in the hielandis an isles, quhair brokin men hes duelt and presentlie duellis". The laird of Coll was one of the chiefs listed on this roll. 'Broken men' were generally men who had no chief and who were often outlaws. Beveridge wrote that these men adopted "the Viking principle of living at the expense of those who were weaker than themselves". Beveridge proposed that the 'broken men' on Coll, mentioned in 1587, would have likely dwelt in the more remote areas on the island; and that the old duns would have offered such men a certain amount of defensive security. He concluded that there was no doubt that some of the duns on Coll were inhabited well within historic times. Beveridge wrote that it was said, locally on Coll, that Samuel Johnson visited Dùn an Achaidh during his tour of the Hebrides. However, Beveridge noted neither Johnson, nor James Boswell, made mention of visiting any of the duns on the island.
Traditions associated with Dùn an Achaidh
Beveridge stated that according to local tradition the dun was the stronghold of a Norseman, named as the son of a king named Anlaimh. The story was that the local islanders revolted under his tyranny and attacked the dun at night; setting fire to it and routed the Norse occupiers. Beveridge noted that the tradition of setting fire to the dun seemed to have been validated by the evidence of fire still visible on the dun's foundations. In the early 20th century, Rev. Dugald MacEchern detailed a tradition concerning Dùn an Achaidh.
