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Note
Date 19 June 2014 - 31 August 2016
Event ID 1045618
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Note
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1045618
This fortified settlement is situated on the hillock that rises up on the W side of the Mein Water NW of Minsca. Roughly circular on plan, it measures about 61m in diameter within a single rampart with an external ditch. These defences are best preserved on the S, where they were shielded from the worst excesses of later cultivation by the presence of another settlement, though this too was largely ploughed out in the 19th century before the preparation of the 1st edition OS 25-inch map (Dumfriesshire 1862, sheet 52.1). Nevertheless, the rampart here still stands up to 0.9m high internally and 2.4m above the bottom of the ditch, which is at least 5m in breadth by 1.5m in depth. Elsewhere the defences have been severely reduced, almost disappearing on the W where evidence of later cultivation can be seen riding up over the SW third of the interior. Despite this, the remaining part of the interior contains evidence of at least five ring-ditch houses and reveals a complex history of enclosure, notably to the W of the entrance on the NE, from which a deeply-hollowed trackway climbs up into its centre. Three of the ring-ditch houses lie to the NW of the trackway, and the northernmost not only overlies a palisade trench, but is also cut by the internal quarry scoop that can be traced immediately behind the rampart in this sector; this quarry scoop also cuts a second palisade trench that can be seen running back towards the entrance.
The later settlement on the S is oval on plan and its interior measures about 40m from NNW to SSE by 30m transversely. Its perimeter comprises twin banks with a medial ditch, which are best preserved at the junction with the earlier ditch of the fortified settlement, but can also be detected around the southern quadrant.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 31 August 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC1036
