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Brieryshaw Hill,fort and settlement

A Scheduled Monument in Annandale East and Eskdale, Dumfries and Galloway

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.2149 / 55°12'53"N

Longitude: -2.9925 / 2°59'33"W

OS Eastings: 336946

OS Northings: 591639

OS Grid: NY369916

Mapcode National: GBR 78J4.XD

Mapcode Global: WH7YJ.058Z

Entry Name: Brieryshaw Hill,fort and settlement

Scheduled Date: 26 March 1987

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM4393

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort)

Location: Ewes

County: Dumfries and Galloway

Electoral Ward: Annandale East and Eskdale

Traditional County: Dumfriesshire

Description

The monuments are a fort and settlement of the Iron Age. The fort lies on the E edge of the rounded summit of Brieryshaw Hill. A circular area measuring c.58m in diameter is enclosed by two heavy ramparts, the inner spread to about 7.5m, the outer to about 9m. The ditch between them measures about 10m in width and about 2m in depth. The enclosed area is roughly divided into two courts by a scarp up to 1.5m high with the lower NE sector leading to the single 4m wide entrance on the E side. In the upper sector there are the traces of a number of poorly defined circular house stances. A later rectangular structure also lies in this area.

100m to the SW lies the second monument, an embanked settlement of the Iron Age. It lies on the southern flank of the hill in a poor defensive position. It measures about 60m N-S by 55m E-W; it is surrounded by a bank up to 1m high. The interior has been considerably hollowed. At least two house stances survive in the interior. The entrance lies on the W. An area measuring 320m NE-SW by 125m transversely is proposed for the scheduling; this includes both sites and the area between them.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The fort is of national importance because of its good field characteristics. Much valuable information will survive in its relatively undisturbed interior. It is of national importance to the themes of Iron Age settlement and economy. The monuments are of particular interest because of the proximity of the two sites, one defensive, the other not. Much valuable information on the development of defence and on the changes in society and economy which were involved in this development may survive. The monuments are therefore of national importance to the themes of Iron Age settlement, defence and economy, and also to the theme of the organisation and development of the landscape and society of the Iron Age.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monuments as NY39SE 1 and 10.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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