The Dark Ages

During the Dark Ages which,followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, conditions must have been very disturbed. It is from this period that the considerable group of 'courtyard' forts in Rerrick parish extending over the hilly ridge to the Urr estuary seems to date, and may be linked with the 5th-7th century trading site at the Mote of Mark near Kippford. In the Auchencairn area there are several of these sites; two near the old road from the Hall farm towards Airds; one above the cemetery; one at Nether Hazelfield; one on Suie Hill and one on Dungarry. These last two have been examined and were found to differ from all the others in certain respects, they are thought to date from the 8th century - one theory being that they were built by refugee Scots from Dalriada fleeing from invading Northern Picts. Scots were, of course, Gaelic speakers.back to top