Field Visit
Date 28 July 1970
Event ID 1112664
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1112664
In the area centred at HY 760 470, partly covered by sand-blow are six large, turf-covered artificial mounds (A-F); several denuded stony banks, possibly a field system of uncertain period; an enclosure (G); and over 50 smaller mounds.
Of the large mounds 'A' is probably the alleged broch previously mentioned by Cursiter. It survives as a mound about 30.0m in diameter and 1.2m high with a rim of stony material around its top enclosing a slight hollow about 12.0m in diameter. It shows no broch features and cannot be classified, although undoubtedly artificial.
'B', measuring about 15.0m in diameter and 0.8m high, is a mound of earth and stones, possibly a cairn.
'C' measures about 33.0m in diameter with a smaller mound about 11.0m in diameter surmounting it, making a total height of 2.8m. Several upright slabs forming no intelligible pattern protrude through the turf.
'D' also shows several protruding stones, and measures about 22.0m in diameter and 1.1m high.
'E' is a crescentic-shaped mound, 1.8m high, almost certainly a burnt mound, though turf-covering and sand obscures its content. It is named Shelly Knowe on OS 6".
'F', about 12.0m in diameter and 0.8m high displays a content of stone, and may be a cairn.
Some of the denuded banks, spread to about 3.0m and 0.4m in height, exhibit a resemblance to HY63NE 5 in incorporating at irregular intervals stony mounds, averaging 7.0m in diameter, which may be cairns. These are the 'chain of forts' which Wood refers to, but both banks and mounds are too spread and overgrown for detailed observation, and there have undoubtedly been other mounds now virtually destroyed in addition to the eleven surveyed.
The E side of the enclosure 'G' is obscured by beach debris, and it is of uncertain period. Within it is the W arc of an apparently once circular bank and now overlaid by a seaweed rock, and a turf-covered mound about 9.5m in diameter and 0.6m high, with which it may be associated.
Immediately N of mound 'B' is a rectangular area 55.0m N-S by 40.0m E-W, bounded by sandy heaps which may conceal structures.
Both within and outside the area enclosed by the stony banks and the sea are at least 50 turf-covered mounds from 6.0m to 12.0m in diameter. Some are undoubtedly natural sandy knolls, but others may be cairns or clearance heaps but this cannot be determined without excavation. There is no trace of circular stone settings.
It is uncertain what the complex represents. Some of the large mounds could be sand covered occupation sites with the banks being associated field walls, but the similarity of some of the mounds to HY63NE 5 suggests the possibility that they may be sepulchral. There are also traces of comparatively recent cultivation in the area.
Until excavated it is impossible to classify.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 28 July 1970.
