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Latitude: 55.5105 / 55°30'37"N
Longitude: -3.1703 / 3°10'13"W
OS Eastings: 326188
OS Northings: 624701
OS Grid: NT261247
Mapcode National: GBR 649Q.FG
Mapcode Global: WH6VR.8RLG
Entry Name: Dryhope, hut circle, cairns and field system 500m WNW of
Scheduled Date: 12 September 1963
Last Amended: 8 November 2000
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM2324
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: hut circle, roundhouse; Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (
Location: Yarrow
County: Scottish Borders
Electoral Ward: Selkirkshire
Traditional County: Selkirkshire
The monument comprises the remains of a hut circle, two burial cairns, a possible enclosed cremation cemetery, and a field system made up of clearance cairns.
The monument lies on a S facing hill slope at around 290m OD, close to the Kirkstead Burn and overlooking St Mary's Loch to the S. It comprises structures from several different phases of prehistory. The largest feature is a large circular enclosure with a wide SE facing entrance, representing the remains of a prehistoric "hut circle" building, a large farmhouse dating from the Iron Age (c. 500BC-AD400). The hut circle measures approximately 15m across over walls that stand between 0.5m and 1m high and spread 1m to 2m wide.
Three further stone-built structures lie to the NW of the hut circle. Two of these structures appear to be denuded burial cairns dating from the later Neolithic or early Bronze Age period, over 1000 years before the construction of the hut circle. They are roughly circular in shape with a diameter of c. 6m and stand approximately 0.3m high. No burial chambers or cists are visible within the bodies of these cairns, despite obvious stone robbing from their interiors. The third feature is slightly smaller, measuring 5m in diameter. This could also be a denuded cairn, but the more regular kerb around its perimeter and the level stony interior indicate that it is probably an enclosed cremation cemetery, a slightly later form of funerary monument.
A field system comprising a number of large field clearance cairns lies to the N and NW of the other structures.
The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape, and is bounded on the N, S and W by farm tracks. It measures a maximum of 150m E-W by 120m N-S as shown in red on the attached map extract.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our understanding of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices, the prehistoric environment and farming practices, and prehistoric settlement and economy. This site is an unusual conjunction of features from different periods in prehistory, and the relationship between the different elements of the monument is of particular interest.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NT 22 SE 1.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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