Description

The monument comprises the remains of a ring ditch and pit-defined enclosure of prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies in arable farmland at around 70m OD. The ring ditch is about 15-20m in diameter, within a narrow ditch approximately 1-2m wide. A central dark feature suggestive of a grave pit indicates that this ring ditch may represent a former burial mound rather than a timber roundhouse.

The pit enclosure comprises an irregular arc of pits apparently defining the S and E sectors of a large oval enclosure up to 150m E-W by 100m in size. Two dark, circular cropmarks associated with this enclosure, one straddling the SE arc of pits, may represent former timber structures.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and areas around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is in two parts. The area around the ring ditch is sub-circular with a maximum diameter of 50m while that for the pit enclosure is irregular with maximum dimensions of 180m ENE-WSW by 160m, both 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 prehistoric settlement and burial practices. The pit enclosure in particular is a most unusual feature possibly with a specialised economic role.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the ring ditch as NO 24 NE 41 and the pit enclosure as NO 24 NE 39.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland