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Latitude: 55.9958 / 55°59'44"N
Longitude: -2.7988 / 2°47'55"W
OS Eastings: 350270
OS Northings: 678376
OS Grid: NT502783
Mapcode National: GBR 2R.V74R
Mapcode Global: WH7TQ.ZKDF
Entry Name: Sixpence Strip,enclosure SE of
Scheduled Date: 1 November 1993
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM5823
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive)
Location: Athelstaneford
County: East Lothian
Electoral Ward: Haddington and Lammermuir
Traditional County: East Lothian
The monument comprises the remains of an enclosed settlement of prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.
The monument occupies an area of level farmland at around 45m OD on the periphery of the rich prehistoric landscape centred on the Chesters fort some 300m to the E. The enclosure is defined by a broad penannular ditch some 4m wide and is some 60m in overall diameter. A break in the ditch on the W part of the circuit appears to represent the remains of an entrance some 7m wide. Concentric with this outer ditch is an inner palisade set some 4m back from the inner lip of the ditch.
This appears to have a much narrower entrance gap adjacent to that of the outer ditch. Its regularity of spacing from the outer ditch suggests that the two form components of a contemporary enclosure system. In the N part of the inner enclosure lies a dense circular cropmark which appears to represent the remains of an internal building some 8-10m in diameter. Other less well-defined cropmarks within the interior may represent the remains of associated occupation deposits.
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 irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 130m E-W by 100m as marked in red on the accompanying map. The modern fence running through the site is excluded from scheduling.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric house and enclosure construction. The visible cropmarks suggest that the structures will be sufficiently well-preserved to permit the definition of detailed constructional methods as well as the recovery of material relating to the nature of the occupation and site economy. The significance of the monument is enhanced by its association with the extensive prehistoric landscape centred on the Chesters forts.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS records the monument as NT 57 NW 30.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Other nearby scheduled monuments