Description

The monument comprises a burial cairn likely to date to the Bronze Age. It survives as a small, turf-covered stone mound and is located on the W side of Annandale, on open grassland to the east of Knockilsine Hill and at approximately 250m above sea level.

The cairn measures approximately 6m in diameter at its widest point and survives to just over 1m high. It is subcircular on plan and is broadly convex in profile. None of its internal structure is visible and except small isolated areas of soil poaching/erosion there are no signs of disturbance. Records indicate the presence of similar, smaller cairns in the vicinity but these have been difficult to locate in recent times.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, centred on the monument, to include the remains described and an area around within which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics

The cairn represents a complete and relatively undisturbed example of a prehistoric burial monument. It is therefore likely to contain archaeological deposits including one or more burials and grave goods. The excavation of similar examples confirms that they often contain rich artefact assemblages that might include cist settings, pottery and flintwork as well as skeletal remains. Taken together these can help us understand more about the practice and significance of burial and commemoration of the dead. There is also likely to be environmental evidence preserved in the soil horizons that can help us build up a picture of the climate, local conditions and land cover when the cairn was built and in use.

Contextual characteristics

The cairn belongs to a numerous and widespread group of prehistoric burial monuments that collectively indicate the broad scale of prehistoric burial traditions in Scotland. More locally, it belongs to a group of 70 or so monuments burials known of in eastern Dumfries and Galloway and a small cluster of 11 similar monuments in Annandale. The local cluster of monuments includes the earlier, Neolithic monument called Stidriggs just under 2 km to the west and other round cairns to the NW and NNW. This proximity signifies an importance that prehistoric communities attached to the immediate area in the Neolithic period and Bronze Age. The observation of smaller cairns on adjacent ground and the presence of later settlement remains to the south (along the ridges of western Annandale) indicate a rich diversity and longevity of prehistoric activity. It is a modestly sized example and, as with others, the proximity of a water course (in this case a tributary of the Kinnel Water) is not surprising. Its position slightly below the locally high point (Knockilsine Hill) is a common feature of cairns and it is visible on the skyline when approached from the south-east. It also has reasonable views southwards down Annandale which adds to our interest here.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular the design and construction of burial monuments, the ceremony and rites that may have taken place and their significance and place in prehistoric society. Skeletal remains, grave goods and ecofactual evidence are likely to survive in situ and these can help build up a picture of the circumstance of prehistoric burial in Annandale. The monument's loss would impede our ability to understand the placing of such monuments within the landscape and the significance of death and burial in prehistoric life.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the monument as NY09NE 12. Dumfries and Galloway Council Sites and Monuments Record records the site as MDG 6728.

References

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland 1997, Eastern Dumfriesshire: An Archaeological Landscape. Edinburgh, The Stationery Office.

Scott-Elliot and Rae, J and I 1967, 'The small cairns fields of Dumfriesshire',Trans Dumfriesshire Galloway Natur Hist Antiq Soc 44, 108.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland