Description

The monument consists of a scooped, embankment settlement of the Iron Age overlain by a farmstead of the pre-improvement period. The Iron Age settlement measures 44m (NNE-SSW) by 30m transversely, internally. Roughly oval in plan, the settlement is bounded on the NW and SW by a scarp up to 1.6m high and elsewhere by the remains of a heavily robbed stony bank up to 4.8m in thickness and 0.4m in height. An original entrance cannot be identified with certainty.

The NW quadrant of the settlement has been cut off by a stony bank up to 4.5m in thickness and 0.3m in height to form an enclosure measuring internally 24m (NNE-SSW) by 15m transversely; the date and purpose of this work are uncertain but are unlikely to be contemporary with the original occupation of the settlement. Immediately upslope of the settlement there are the remains of a farmstead comprising up to four platform buildings.

The first measures 9.5m (WNW-ESE) by 2.9m transversely. Its platform has been excavated into the slope at right angles to the contours has a rear scarp 0.7m high and a forward scarp 0.4m high; low stony banks up to 1.5m in thickness and 0.2m in height are visible on the long side of the platform.

The second platform building measures 10.5m (W-E) by 3.7m transversely internally. Its platform has been excavated into the slope at right angles to the contours and has a rear scarp 0.6m high and a forward scarp 0.6m high. Stony banks up to 1.2m in thickness and 0.2m in height are visible on the long sides of the platform.

The third probable platform building has been excavated into the slope at right angles to the contours and measures 9.5m (WNW-ESE) by 3.9m transversely. Its rear scarp is 0.4m high and its forward scarp is 0.5m high. The fourth building is excavated into the slope parallel to the contours and measures 17m (NNE-SSW) by 4.2m transversely. Its rear scarp is 0.4m high and its forward scarp is 0.6m high. No remains of wall footings are visible upon it.

A further possible building measuring 8.8m (WNW-ESE) by 3.6m transversely internally overlying the scarp of the settlement on its SW corner. Traces of banks and further scoops lie around the buildings.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument has reasonably well preserved field characteristics. Both parts of the monument are good examples of their class. The Iron Age settlement is of particular interest because of its secondary internal subdivision, and is of national importance to the theme of pre-improvement settlement and agriculture. The pre-improvement farmstead is of national importance to the themes of pre-improvement settlement and agricultural economy. Both parts of the monument, taken with other members of their classes in the area, are of national importance to the theme of the organisation of the agricultural landscape in their respective periods.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NY 38 NE 12.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland