Description

The monument, which lies on and below a natural shelf to the E of Cockburn Law fort, comprises an enclosed settlement of the Iron Age, an unenclosed farmstead of the pre-improvement period and cultivation remains belonging to both periods. The Iron Age settlement (measuring 70m x 30m) is complex, of more than one period and is enclosed by an earth and stone bank. Within it are the remains of four circular house stances; a fifth lies outside.

The settlement and the details of its interior arrangements are well preserved; information of considerable value and importance about the development and use of the settlement will survive. To the S of the enclosure are the remains of a field system, apparently of prehistoric date. The prehistoric system survives as a series of well defined banks. Next to the settlement on the NE are the remains of two pre-improvement rectangular buildings. Both are divided into two compartments.

To the N is an area of rig and furrow cultivation, enclosed by field banks. At the N edge there are the remains of a further rectangular building and of field clearance cairns. An area measuring a maximum of 540m (SSW-NNE) x 300m transversely is proposed for scheduling, to include the Iron Age settlement and field system fragment, the pre-improvement house stances, field system and clearance cairns.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The national importance of the monument must be considered in two parts. First, the Iron Age settlement is a well preserved example of its type, it has excellent field characteristics. Few complex settlements of this period survive undamaged in the area; this site will contain information of considerable value about Iron Age settlement.

It is of particular interest and importance because it lies in an area where other types of Iron Age settlement survive; immediately to the W is Cockburn Law fort, to the NE are fort and broch at Edin's Hall, and further small settlement. In addition fragments of contemporary field systems are rarely preserved. The Iron Age monuments together are of national importance to the theme of the development of prehistoric settlement and agriculture.

Second, the pre-improvement remains are well preserved examples of houses and cultivation remains of a period about which little is known. Investigation of the houses and fields would provide information of considerable value about the way of life of the inhabitants. The monument is of national importance to the theme of pre-improvement settlement and agriculture.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NT 75 NE 2 and 3.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland