Vitrified Forts

The name given to certain remarkable stone inclosures bearing traces of the action of fire, about 50 of which exist in various parts of Scotland. They are generally situated on a small hill, overlooking a considerable valley, and consist of a wall, which may have originally been about 12 feet in height, inclosing a level area on the summit of a hill. The most remarkable feature of these structures is, that the wall is always more or le consolidated by the action of fire,—in some cases only giving a gla y coating to its inner side, while in other instances the vitrification has been most complete, the ruins a uming the character of vast ma es of coarse gla .