Description

The monument comprises a hut circle, the footings of a prehistoric house between 2000 and 3000 years old. It lies in rough pasture on the E slopes of Knock Hill, within a group of prehistoric burial cairns, hut circles, field clearance cairns and relic field boundaries identified on Knock Hill and the environs.

The hut-circle survives as an approximately circular turf-covered bank measuring 13.5m in diameter overall and up to 0.6m high. The interior is 7.5m across, enclosed by the bank (wall footing) spread up to 2-3m wide. A possible entrance is located in the SE quarter. A curving enclosure bank measuring 20m long by 2m wide abuts the S side of the hut circle.

The area to be scheduled is polygonal on plan, to include the hut circle and bank and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is in a relatively good state of preservation. It is upstanding and clearly visible in the landscape. The continued landuse as rough pasture has probably resulted in the preservation of further archaeological deposits within the structure and within and beneath the field bank. It therefore has the potential to reveal further information about local variations in domestic architecture and building use, as well as prehistoric upland landuse.

Contextual characteristics: As a well-preserved hut circle, the monument has the potential to reveal much about house building and domestic life in the later prehistoric communities of NE Scotland. Comparing and contrasting it to nearby upland hut circles as well as to lowland cropmark sites and others outside the region can create an understanding of regional identity, economy and society. The identification of a group of later prehistoric monuments on Knock Hill and the environs further enhances the value of the monument.

National Importance: This monument is of national importance because it is well preserved, which is rare for this class of monument in this region. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to our knowledge of upland landuse and society in this locality and, by association, the rest of Scotland in the later prehistoric period. The sample of associated field system is important because it preserves the relationship of the house to the immediate archaeological landscape. The loss of this rare and well-preserved site in this area would affect our future ability to research and understand the above mentioned issues.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record this monument as part of NJ40SE 28.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland