Description

The monument comprises the remains of an enclosed settlement of complex design and the surviving area of a system of cultivation remains of the type known as "cord rig".

The settlement is in two parts; the larger upper area contains the remains of 3 scooped courts, one overlain by a later rectangular building, and 3 circular house scoops. The second part of the settlement lies to the SE; there are two courts and at least two house scoops. There are traces of further scoops to the SE. The cultivation remains take the form of plots of narrow rigs, probably formed by the use of spade or hoe; there are also the remains of broader rig cultivation, possibly associated with the rectangular building mentioned above.

The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 300m E-W by a maximum of 295m N-S, to include the settlement and the cultivation remains, and an area around them in which traces of activities associated with their use may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a very well preserved settlement with good, clearly visible, field characteristics. It seems likely to have a complex history and has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the design and development of prehistoric settlements, especially when taken with the other, varied, types of prehistoric settlement surviving in the area it has the potential greatly to increase our knowledge of the development of the farmed, settled, prehistoric landscape. The monument is of particular importance because of the survival of a substantial area of very well preserved cord rig, examination of which could improve considerably our understanding of the date and nature of this type of cultivation.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 81 NE 3.

Reference:

RCAHMS, Inventory of Roxburghshire, No. 663.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland