Description

The monument comprises a well-preserved hut circle (the footings of a prehistoric house between 2000 and 3000 years old) and an adjacent, roughly oval enclosure. It is located on heather moorland at 450 m OD.

The hut circle measures 8.5 m in diameter overall, with rubble wall footings approximately 1 m thick and 0.3 m high. The enclosure, which lies immediately SE of the hut circle, measures approximately 24 m NW-SE by 19 m NE-SW within a drystone wall incorporating large boulders up to 0.6 m in height.

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

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

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

Intrinsic characteristics: The two elements of the monument are in a relatively good state of preservation. They are upstanding and clearly visible in the landscape. The continued landuse as pasture and now as grouse moor has probably resulted in the preservation of further archaeological deposits within the structure and enclosure. 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 the domestic life of later prehistoric communities in NE Scotland. Comparing and contrasting it with other similar sites outside the region enables us to create an understanding of regional identity, economy and society, for example with nearby upland hut circles, with and without associated enclosures, and to lowland cropmark sites. The adjacent enclosure, possibly associated with the hut circle, adds to the research potential of the site.

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 loss of this rare and well-preserved example in this area would affect our future ability to understand these issues.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the monument as NJ40NW159.

References:

RCAHMS 2007, IN THE SHADOW OF BENNACHIE: THE FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY OF DONSIDE, ABERDEENSHIRE, Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland