Archaeology Notes

Event ID 731203

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/731203

NY38SE 12 366 820

The largest slag deposit in Eskdale was found in 1911 by Mr A Aitchison on Burian Hill (name NY 364 818) about 1/2 mile from Old Irvine farmhouse, about 400ft OD. The main deposit is about 9ft long by 3ft deep.

J and R Hyslop 1912

This is the site of a medieval bloomery. The samples seen, in Dumfries Museum, appear to be mainly tap slag.

A E Truckell 1964; J Williams 1967

The spread of slag found in 1911 could not be identified on the ground and it may now be turf-covered. However, the farmer (Mr Graham, Old Irvine, Langholm) discovered a concentration of slag (some of which he has in his possession) whilst digging drainage ditches about 1970 in the area centred NT 3668 8200. This fairly level, marshy area lies just below four or five small quarries which have been cut into the hillslope.

Visited by OS (MJF) 27 September 1979