Description

The monument comprises the remains of a promontory fort, probably of later prehistoric date.

The monument occupies the point of a cliffed headland called The (or Da) Hevdas. Part of the remains appears to have been lost to marine erosion. A low mound of earth and stones is flanked by a bank and possible rock-cut ditch. Where this mound is cut by the top of the cliff it shows drystone walling and occupation deposits (including late prehistoric pottery) in section.

There is a small subsidiary mound immediately to the E. A few metres to the north, an earthern bank runs inland from the E cliff edge for about 10m and then swings to run NW for about 30m before merging with the hillside. The hillside to the immediate NE of the N end of the bank has been quarried. The result is a flat, lowered area to the NE of the bank, which may be a defensive ditch.

It is, however, possible that the flat area and the N part of the bank is a more recent product of quarrying, although the bank appears to be continuous with that flanking the prehistoric mound. Two low banks run from the larger bank across to the cliff on the W side, but are probably of more recent date.

The site is best interpreted as the remains of an Iron Age fort which has been modified by later stone quarrying.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, bounded by the clifftop to E, S and SW, and elsewhere by a line drawn parallel to, and 5m from, a fenceline. This includes all of the remains described, measures a maximum of 80m approximately N-S by a maximum of 45m E-W, and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a later prehistoric fort, with potential to provide information about Iron Age defensive architecture and domestic economy. It also has group importance as one of a chain of coastal fortifications, both brochs and promontory forts, along the E coast of South Mainland Shetland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU 43 NE 9.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland