Details

The monument includes the remains of a prehistoric unenclosed hut circle
settlement situated on the crest and level top of broad ridge above the valley
of the Akeld Burn. It comprises six hut circles and two enclosures surviving
as upstanding features in heather moorland. The hut circles lie between 20m
and 50m apart and measure between 6m and 10m in diameter; they are defined by
walls on average 0.3m high and some have east facing entrance gaps. The
enclosures are centrally located within the settlement. The first is circular
and measures 4m in diameter with a possible subsidiary enclosure defined by a
bank. The second enclosure is sub-oval and measures 17m by 13m; it comprises
an earth and stone bank 0.4m high with an internal face of large stones
visible through the vegetation and an entrance on the east side marked by an
orthostat. The post and wire fence which crosses the monument is excluded
from the scheduling, although the ground beneath this feature is included.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Unenclosed hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric
farmers. The hut circles take a variety of forms. Some are stone based and are
visible as low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area. Others were
timber constructions and only the shallow groove in which the timber uprights
used in the wall construction stood can now be identified; this may survive as
a slight earthwork feature or may be visible on aerial photographs. Some can
only be identified by the artificial earthwork platforms created as level
stances for the houses. The number of houses in a settlement varies between
one and twelve. In areas where they were constructed on hillslopes the
platforms on which the houses stood are commonly arrayed in tiers along the
contour of the slope. Several settlements have been shown to be associated
with organised field plots, the fields being defined by low stony banks or
indicated by groups of clearance cairns.
Many unenclosed settlements have been shown to date to the Bronze Age but it
is also clear that they were still being constructed and used in the Early
Iron Age. They provide an important contrast to the various types of enclosed
and defended settlements which were also being constructed and used around the
same time. Their longevity of use and their relationship with other monument
types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation
and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities.

The prehistoric unenclosed hut circle settlement west of Monday Cleugh is
reasonably well preserved and retains significant archaeological deposits. It
is one of a group of archaeological sites on Harehope Hill whose remains are
well preserved and forms part of a wider archaeological landscape in the
northern Cheviots.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
NT 92 NE 34,

Source: Historic England