Description

The monument comprises the remains of a palisaded enclosed settlement of prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies on level ground in arable farmland at around 20m OD. The enclosure is defined by two sub-parallel palisade trenches some 8m apart. It is almost square, with sides some 130m in length, although the presumed N line of the enclosing palisade trenches cannot be clearly identified from the visible cropmarks. There are no unambiguous traces of internal features.

The monument may represent an enclosed settlement similar in form to native settlements of the period of Roman influence in southern Scotland, although its palisaded construction sets it apart from other such monuments in East Lothian. Other palisaded enclosures in the region have been shown to represent post-Roman settlement and it is possible that the present monument also dates to this period.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is an irregular quadrilateral on plan, with sides measuring 210m (N), 165m (E), 190m (S) and 210m (W), as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of settlement organisation and economy in the period of Roman influence in southern Scotland or in subsequent centuries. Its importance is enhanced by the highly unusual nature of its defensive works.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT57NW 58.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland