Archaeology Notes

Event ID 664828

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/664828

NH87SW 8 8406 7366.

(NH 8406 7366) 250m W of the fort (NH87SW 6) is a hillock, on top of which are slight remains of a bank; the inner side forms an eroded lip of turf falling steeply into a depression which is up to 0.5m deep. The whole is about 12m NW-SE by 11m transversely. The depression is broken only at the SE, from which issues a track to the S base of the hillock. At the NW part of the bank is a flat portion some 6ft by 9ft; otherwise the artificial hollow takes up the whole of the top. Apart from a trace near the eroded position on the NE face, there appears to be no other artificial bank or ditch - and this too, may be natural.

Information from J Howdle to OS, 29 August 1961; Visible on RAF air photographs CPE/Scot/UK/223: 4149-50: flown 27 June 1947.

This structure crowns the top of a prominent knoll which has been levelled to accommodate it. It consists of a circular turf-covered rubble wall spread to an average of 5.0m and measures overall 20.0m in diameter. There is a mutilated entrance gap in the E. There is no doubt that it has been a dwelling, similar to that overlying the fort to the SE (NH87SW 6), and is probably best classififed as a homestead.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 18 September 1964.

(NH 8406 7366) Homestead (NR)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1981)

A circular structure in a good defensive position on the summit of a knoll, as described by the previous OS field surveyor. It is very similar to the dun some 250m to the E (NH87SW 6) in respect of its position, size and condition, and for the same reason is itself more likely to be a dun than a hut circle, though it is severely reduced. A curving line of the base course of an outer wall face, 2.2m long, is exposed in the side of the knoll about 1.0m below summit level in the SW periphery of the structure. This may indicate a part of the structure, in which case the wall at this point is spread to 6.0m - 8.0m or it may be the remains of an outer defence. There is no other evidence for a possible outer work. Listed as a dun (RCAHMS 1979).

RCAHMS 1979; Visited by OS (N K B) 10 March 1981.