Description

The monument comprises a rectilinear enclosure of prehistoric date, visible as a cropmark on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies in arable farmland at around 15m OD. It comprises a sub-rectangular enclosure some 15m E-W by about 8m within a ditch approximately 1m wide. Its corners are rounded and it appears to have an entrance in each of the long sides. There appears to be an internal division about 3m from the E end, and an amorphous cropmark in the interior may indicate surviving occupation deposits within the structure.

The monument represents the foundation trench for the timber walls of a house and is most likely to be of Dark Age date, but may be Neolithic - a timber hall, or, less likely, a mortuary enclosure.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the visible remains and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is rectangular, measuring 40m E-W by 30m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy. Whether Dark Age or Neolithic, it is a member of a rare class of site which has been little investigated. Its importance is enhanced by its proximity to sites of potentially contemporary date.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 42 NE 57.

Aerial Photographs used:

RCAHMS (1988) A56953 NO42NE47, 56, 57.

RCAHMS (1991) F6986/TR NO42NE47, 56, 57.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland