Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fort of later prehistoric date surviving as a series of earthworks.

The fort occupies a locally prominent position overlooking the small, steep-sided valley of a tributary of the Park Burn. It lies at approximately 275m OD and commands extensive views to the N and W. The fort is defined by a single rampart and ditch enclosing a subcircular area approximately 50m in diameter. The rampart survives to a height of approximately 2m above the bottom of the ditch and up to 1.2m above the interior.

The interior is very uneven, suggesting the survival of deposits relating to prehistoric occupation. The defences survive less well on the N part of the circuit although the relief is such that the position of the fort is unambiguous. There is no visible entrance through the upstanding sector of the rampart, suggesting that the original entrance would have lain in the denuded N sector. The rampart and ditch cannot be traced in the SE quadrant where their function may have been achieved by the use of the natural steep slope to the adjacent burn.

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 subcircular on plan with a maximum diameter of 90m 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 Iron Age defensive settlement. The well-preserved rampart and ditch will contain information relating to the construction, date and nature of the defences while the interior deposits have considerable potential to provide detailed information relating to the nature and sequence of the occupation.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 56 NE 6.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland