Description

The monument consists of the remains of a late prehistoric promontory fort on the shores of Hog Sound. This site has been partly eroded by the sea, which has resulted in

the fort's 3 earthen ramparts and 2 intervening ditches being separated by a tidal channel, some 20m wide, from the original interior of the fort, which now forms Hog Island. The landward edge of the island is marked only by a slight bank, possibly of later date. The causeway which bisects the defences now ends with a steep drop into the sea, but formerly gave access to an extensive interior: if intact, this would be the largest-known defensive enclosure in Shetland.

The area to be scheduled is in two irregular parts, to include the ramparts on the mainland and the landward portion of the island, where traces of the fort's construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a good example of a simple multi-vallate fort of dump-rampart design which may contain evidence, accessible to excavation, for the date and method of construction of such forts in Shetland. It gains added importance from the very clear evidence it displays for the extent of coastal change since the Iron Age.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as HU 55 NW 2.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland