Description

The monument comprises the remains of prehistoric settlements, which take the form of a palisaded enclosure with an associated pit alignment, a rectilinear enclosure and a souterrain. All of these features are represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs. The features form part of a larger complex of sites extending to the west.

The palisaded enclosure occupies the southern end of a modern arable field on the N bank of the Harelaw Burn. It is formed by a single, subcircular palisade defining an area some 60m in diameter. There is no indication of an entrance in the visible sector of the enclosure, but it is possible that one exists on the S side where the palisade does not appear on the available photographs. A pit alignment runs N- S from the E part of this enclosure for a distance of some 300m. The superimposition of the features visible on the aerial photograph suggests a rare stratigraphic sequence between an enclosure and pit alignment.

Some 250m N of the palisaded enclosure and to the W of the pit alignment is a rectilinear enclosure formed by a narrow ditch enclosing an area approximately 70m E-W by 50m. The NW and SE corners of this enclosure are angular while the other two are markedly rounded. An entrance is visible on the E side and there are indications of surviving internal deposits in the W part of the interior. N of this enclosure is a souterrain represented by a semi-circular dark cropmark, with the open part of the semi-circle to the N. The feature is widest on its W side suggesting that this was the location of the entrance. Souterrains have been shown on excavation to be associated with above-ground open settlements.

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 divided into two parts. The northern part comprises a circular area 90m in diameter while the southern part is irregular with maximum dimensions of 550m NW-SE by 220m 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 the nature and inter-relationships of several characteristic later prehistoric site types. Each of the features appears sufficiently well-preserved to inform us of its date, the nature of its occupation and the economic system of which it was a part. Together the various components will provide extremely important information on the development of the later prehistoric farming landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT56NE 7, 9, 19 and 30.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland