Description

The monument comprises the remains of a narrow ditched enclosure of the prehistoric period. It appears in an arable field as marks in a cereal crop; experience shows that further remains, not susceptible to cropmark formation, will survive in the immediate vicinity. The enclosure forms the western part of a rectangular enclosure with rounded corners; the remainder will survive in the adjacent field, where as yet cropmarks have not been recorded.

The visible cropmark measures c20m by c30m within a ditch c1.5m wide. It is likely that the remains represent a funerary/ceremonial or domestic structure. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 130m NNE-SSW by 100m NNW - SSE, to include the area in which cropmarks are visible and the surrounding areas where further features are likely to survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as the remains of domestic or ceremonial structures of the mid to late prehistoric period. Even though the area is under the plough experience shows that extensive and important archaeological features and deposits will survive below plough level. Whether houses or funerary/ceremonial structures they are a group of related structures, of which very few survive in this lowland area.

They are particularly important because of the potential for establishing relationships between the individual ring-ditches. The monument has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the prehistoric settlement of Northern Scotland. The monument is of particular importance because of the survival of other prehistoric sites in the area, with which this monument may be associated.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NH 75 NE 7.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland