Description

The monument is an enclosed cremation cemetery of the Bronze Age, situated on the northern part of Dourieknowes, between Dourieknowes Plantation and Cowhill Plantation. It lies in a slight hollow. It is circular and measures 14m in diameter to the crest of a low turf and stone bank, nowhere more than 20cm high. There is a slight ill-defined central cairn, typical of the monument type, surmounted by a standing stone some 30m high. Remains of activity associated with the use of the cemetery will lie in the area around the visible bank. The remains of cremated bodies will have been deposited in the cemetery and these may survive. An area measuring 40m in diameter is proposed for scheduling, to include the visible remains of the bank, and an area around in which the remains of contemporary burial and ceremonial activities will survive.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is the only known example of its kind in Berwickshire. It is of national importance because it is a rare type in this area; no other information is available on this sort of burial site in Berwickshire. Archaeological excavation would recover information of importance about burial and ceremonial practices of the period. Examination of the remains of burials would provide information about the population of the period in the area. The monument is of national importance to the themes of Bronze Age burial and ceremonial practices. The monument is of particular interest because of the presence of earlier Bronze Age burial mounds on Dirrington Great Law; examination of the contrasts in burial practice would be most informative.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NT65NE 12.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland