Description

The monument comprises a large enclosure with further associated walling plus at least 4 probable prehistoric house-sites, set in a SE-facing fold of the land between Stackaberg and Vord Hill.

The enclosure, Whilsa Pund, is formed of large upright boulders augmented with field-gathered stones. It measures about 300m N-S by 150m, and is in the form of a very irregular oval. Running out from it, particularly to the W, are further walls of similar construction, while to the N runs the very substantial wall called the Funzie Girt. (This is already scheduled.)

At least three house-sites lie within the enclosure of Whilsa Pund. Near the S side is an oval mound about 12m by 10m, with a double-faced outer wall broken by a S-facing entrance. Within, the structure seems to be a central area with several side-cells. To the NNW of this is an oval grass-covered mound about 12m by 11m, with just two large boulders protruding from its top. At the N extremity of the enclosure is a smaller oval structure, apparently 8m by 6m, but much disturbed, and possibly partly reconstructed at a later date, perhaps as a shepherd's shelter.

Outwith the enclosure, to the W and higher on the hillside, is a fourth house-site, some 10.5m by 8.5m, with a double-faced outer wall some 1.0-1.3m thick. The entrance may face S. Within the structure, two upright boulders suggest a typical "transepted" plan, which would imply a Neolithic or Bronze Age date, but only excavation could confirm this.

At the extreme S of the area to be scheduled, and just N of two recent agricultural enclosures, a double oval hollow may be an ancient site but is more probably a quarry scoop.

The area to be scheduled is an irregular polygon drawn to include the enclosure, associated walls, the house-sites and an area around these in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive.

It is contiguous with two other scheduled monuments: the Funzie Girt dyke to the N and the Fiddler's Crus low barrows to the S. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 450m between its E-most and W-most points and 420m between its N-most and S-most points, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved prehistoric settlement and field economy and domestic architecture, as well as about contemporary land-use and environmental conditions.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU 69 SW 5.

Reference:

RCAHMS (1946) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Twelfth report with an inventory of the ancient monuments of Orkney and Shetland, 3v, 61, No. 1228, Edinburgh.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland