Description

The monument comprises a cursus and barrow cemetery of prehistoric date, visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies on relatively level ground in arable farmland. It comprises a cursus measuring about 190m in length ENE-WSW by up to 25m wide, delineated by narrow, irregular ditches. Overlapping with and around the cursus are the remains of numerous round barrows, many with signs of central burial pits, ranging in size from 6m to 8m in diameter.

Five of the barrows form a line running ENE-WSW, about 60m to the N of the cursus and parallel with it, suggesting that their layout may respect that of the cursus. Numerous other cropmarks in the immediate vicinity appear to represent associated structures and enclosures.

Cursus monuments were elongated ritual enclosures, defined by parallel ditches or rows of pits, dating to the Neolithic period. They often, as is the case here, formed a focus for later burials in the form of Bronze Age round barrows.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which associated deposits may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 440m ENE-WSW by 350m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Where modern field boundaries mark the edge of the scheduled area, these are excluded from scheduling.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. Its importance is increased by its close proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date(s), and by its apparent time-depth.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 12 NW 32 and 43.

Aerial Photographs used:

RCAHMS (1992) B79578 NO12NW32 and 43.

RCAHMS (1994) PT/10724/TR NO12NW32 and 43.

RCAHMS (1982) PT/10723 NO12NW32 and 43.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland