Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Publication Account
Date 1972
Event ID 684996
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/684996
NO22NW 25 2436 2854
(NO 2436 2854) Motte, Barton Hill: This prominent mound, a plug of andesite 70 yds E of Kinnaird church, was the subject of a rescue excavation on behalf of the DoE in December 1971.
The summit of the mound measured 24.7m N-S by 18.4m transversely. The sides of the mound to N and E were long and precipitous but shorter to S and W. Excavation exposed all but the NE quadrant of the top of this mound.
The S half had been dished and here eleven rock-cut pits were found. Four averaged 1m in diameter and depth and were arranged on the corners of a quadrilateral aligned NW to SE measuring centre to centre an average of 4m. The remaining seven pits were smaller and were disposed three a side on three sides of a larger quadrilateral with the same alignment and measuring centre to centre an average of 6m. The SW pit of this arrangement was found to be linked to a rock-cut timber slot which extended half the distance along the NW side.
The larger pits of the inner setting held the timbers of a tower house surrounded by a post and log fence with an opening in the E half of the NW side.
The S end of the summit had been protected by a low drystone wall acting as an inner revetment to a wooden stockade.
The N end of the site had been roughly paved and from this area a quantity of domestic debris was recovered including 13th - 14th century pottery. There were also two pieces of Samian ware.
M Stewart 1972
