Description

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

The enclosure lies on a terrace above a meander of the Ogle Burn at around 85m OD. It is almost square on plan, defined by a ditch some 4m wide, and measures approximately 60m NE-SW by 55m. A dark, ill-defined cropmark towards the centre of the enclosure may represent the remains of internal occupation deposits. An entrance is visible in the centre of the NE side.

Rectilinear enclosures in this area have often been interpreted as dating to the Later Iron Age or the period of the Roman invasions of Scotland. There is, however, a paucity of dating evidence from Scotland for enclosures of this kind.

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 irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 165m N-S by 120m 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 prehistoric settlement organisation and economy in the period of Roman influence in southern Scotland. The survival of internal deposits suggests that detailed evidence survives for internal occupation which would enable a reconstruction of the nature, development and function of the enclosure.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 77 SW 37.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland