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Latitude: 55.9382 / 55°56'17"N
Longitude: -2.6802 / 2°40'48"W
OS Eastings: 357608
OS Northings: 671887
OS Grid: NT576718
Mapcode National: GBR 2W.YXFL
Mapcode Global: WH7V5.S0XK
Entry Name: West Mains,enclosures 400m SSW of
Scheduled Date: 23 May 1994
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM5995
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive)
Location: Whittingehame
County: East Lothian
Electoral Ward: Haddington and Lammermuir
Traditional County: East Lothian
The monument comprises the remains of two enclosed settlements of prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.
The monument lies on a projecting spur on the NE flank of Whitelaw Hill at around 140m OD. The NE limits of the site are defined by outcropping rock and this area of the monument is presently uncultivated. The NE enclosure lies principally within this uncultivated area, where it appears to be represented by low earthworks, but is visible as a cropmark on its SW arc where it projects into the cultivated area. The cropmark shows that the enclosure is defined by two concentric ditches and is of sub-circular form with an overall diameter of some 60m.
Some 20m SW is a second enclosure defined by a single, sub-rectangular ditch some 4-5m wide, with a possible entrance in the NW part of its SW side. This enclosure has approximate dimensions of 100m NE-SW by 70m. A series
of well-defined cropmarks in its interior indicate the presence of former domestic buildings. The enclosures lie in a landscape rich in the remains of prehistoric settlement. The sub-rectangular enclosure is of a type widely believed to represent native settlement in the period of Roman influence in southern Scotland.
The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible cropmarks and earthworks and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 190m NE-SW by 110m as marked in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric settlement development and economy. The close spatial association of the two enclosures suggests that they may provide comparative and detailed evidence for developments in settlement form and organisation in the period of Roman influence in southern Scotland.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NT 57 SE 18 and 36.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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