Description

The monument is a settlement and field system of the later Bronze Age/Iron Age situated on an east facing hillslope. The settlement comprises the remains of eleven circular stone-walled houses, divided into two small groups. Five are set into the spine of a ridge on the NE slope of the hill. Four are 10m in diameter; the fifth is 13m in diameter. The second group, of six, lies c100m to the S. They vary in diameter from 6.2m to the largest at 12.5m.

The field system associated with the houses is of limited extent and is marked by low banks, lynchets and clearance cairns. An area measuring a maximum of 360m N to S by 285m transversely (the E side lying along the modern field wall) is proposed for scheduling, to include the settlement and its associated field system, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a well preserved example of a large farming settlement with its associated field system, which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric settlement, economy and agricultural practices.

It is of particular interest because the group contains no double-walled houses (this is unusual) and because it is at the larger end of the size of this type of settlement. The examination of the structure of the settlement, which is divided into two parts, each with one particularly large house, would add considerably to our knowledge of prehistoric social organisation.

Taken with the other broadly contemporary settlements in the area the monument has the potential to enhance our understanding of the organisation and development of the later Bronze Age/Iron Age landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 25 NW 2.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland