Archaeology Notes

Event ID 728260

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/728260

NX99NW 9 9225 9583.

(NX 9225 9583) Fort, Benthead. About 1/4 m. NNE of Benthead, on the SE bank of the Linn and some 60 yds. down from the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall is a small circular entrenchment. The ground falls from the southwards towards the edge of the Linn, and directly overlooks the construction, which forms a small plateau above the precipitous bank 60' to 70' in height.

The mound is encircled by a horseshoe trench in that direction. This construction is very similar to that on the Wanlock Water up the Crawick Pass, in Sanquhar parish (Dumfrie 2 SE 2).

RCAHMS 1920

The recent rapid survey produced one additional probably motte in Dumfriesshire at Benthead.

R W Feachem 1956

This is a very small motte 1.2m max. height with ditch all round exce pt on the north where the slope falls precipitously to the Linn Burn. The ditch is 6.4m overall width and 1.2 max. depth on north and south and 1.0m on the east. The fairly flat top of the motte measures 13.0m in diameter, and has been mutilated on the north side.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 6 August 1959