Description

The monument comprises the remains on an enclosed settlement of later prehistoric date surviving as an earthwork. The enclosure is situated on a relatively level terrace at around 285m OD on a NE-facing slope on Harelaw Hill. The site commands extensive views to the N and E with Traprain Law and the Bass Rock as prominent landmarks. It is, however, just out of view of two nearby enclosed prehistoric settlements.

The enclosure is defined by a bank up to 1.5m high and has an overall diameter of approximately 42m. The bank is most clearly-defined on the S and E but the position of the N part of the circuit is discernible only in the topography of the site. An external ditch and slight counterscarp are visible on the S and E. The interior of the enclosure is uneven and sloping and a denuded, circular, stone structure occupies the S portion. The limits of this structure are ill-defined and loose stone has been mounded into a slight cairn in its centre.

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 circular with a diameter of 80m 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 contribute to our understanding of later prehistoric domestic settlement and economy. The preservation of internal structures indicates that the site could yield significant information on house construction and the spatial patterning of domestic activity. The association of this site with several other enclosures and forts in the area will provide valuable information on the use of the prehistoric landscape and the economic roles of different site types.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 56 SE 6.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland