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Latitude: 55.1813 / 55°10'52"N
Longitude: -3.7434 / 3°44'36"W
OS Eastings: 289083
OS Northings: 588834
OS Grid: NX890888
Mapcode National: GBR 289J.CG
Mapcode Global: WH5W2.G1N8
Entry Name: Barndennoch,ring ditches 350m N of
Scheduled Date: 26 April 1993
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM5677
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: house
Location: Keir
County: Dumfries and Galloway
Electoral Ward: Mid and Upper Nithsdale
Traditional County: Dumfriesshire
The monument comprises a series of features visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographic coverage. These appear to represent an area of prehistoric settlement occupying a relatively level area of ground above the flood plain of the River Nith.
The features comprise two adjacent ring ditches and two parallel lengths of ditch. The ring ditches are approximately 12-15m in diameter with E-facing entrances. These are likely, on the basis of excavations of comparable features elsewhere, to represent the remains of later prehistoric houses. The possibility that they relate
to prehistoric ritual activity cannot, however, be excluded.
Some 20m E of the ring ditches lie the two lengths of slightly curving ditch which run E-W for a distance of approximately 20m. The northern of the two has a break at its centre while the southern is continuous. The ditches appear to be approximately 2-3m wide and have clear terminals suggesting that they did not form part of a more extensive enclosure.
The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape measuring up to 150m NW-SE by up to 100m NE-SW. This area encompasses the visible cropmark features while allowing for an appropriate margin of error in the rectification of the oblique aerial photographs and also an area around the visible features, on the surrounding level terrace, where evidence for associated activity may be expected to survive. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy. The ring ditches have the potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric house construction, while both the ring ditches and the linear ditches may provide evidence relating to prehistoric occupation, economy and environment.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NX 88 NE 23.
Aerial Photographs used:
DF/2156 1977.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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