Description

The monument comprises an unenclosed settlement of prehistoric date, visible as a series of cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies in undulating arable farmland at around 75m OD. It comprises a group of circular ditches, representing the remains of timber roundhouses, and at least two associated souterrains. Souterrains are semi-subterranean passage-like structures thought to have been used for storage in the later prehistoric period. Together the buried remains indicate the presence of an extensive and complex settlement dating to the later prehistoric period.

The northern souterrain measures around 15m in length and is visible as a dark curving cropmark. The southern one measures around 13m in length and can clearly be seen to emerge from the cropmark of a former roundhouse. The northern souterrain appears to accord with a discovery of a souterrain reported in this same field in 1840.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is an irregular polygon in shape, with maximum dimensions of 200m between its N and S-most points and 110m between its E and W-most points, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 23 NW 3 and 58.

Aerial Photographs used:

RCAHMS (1986) A30623 NO23NW3, 58.

RCAHMS (1988) A30623/TR NO23NW3, 58.

RCAHMS (1992) C1268 NO23NW3, 58.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland