Publication Account

Date 17 December 2011

Event ID 923970

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Publication Account

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/923970

The two cropmark camps at Woodhead lie about 1km to the north-west of the three camps at Pathhead, on a ridge above the Tyne Water. Both were recorded in 1976 by Maxwell from the air, with camp II irregular in form and acting as a possible additional enclosure surrounding camp I. This smaller camp measures 140m from northeast to south-west by 111m transversely, enclosing 1.5ha (3.8 acres). Entrance gaps with Stracathro-type gates are visible in its south-west and north-east sides. Excavations in 1983 revealed that the ditch on the north-west side was V-shaped, 2.1m wide and 1m deep. There were traces of turf, which may represent the remains of a rampart. The oblique traverse on the south-west gate was much shallower at 0.5m wide and 0.6m deep, and the external clavicula on the north-east side was V-shaped, 2.1m wide and 1m deep (Maxwell 1983: 177–8).

A larger polygonal enclosure (camp II) appears to enclose camp I. Of this enclosure, the whole of the northwest side (217m) plus parts of the adjacent north-east (at least 272m) and west sides (at least 198m) are known, with a probable Stracathro-type gate on the west side. The maximum distance between the known west and northeast sides is 472m, and it would have enclosed at least 8ha (19.8 acres) and possibly some 12ha (29.6 acres). A series of linear cropmarks, are visible in the fields, with one apparently extending the oblique traverse of the north-east gate of camp I. Maxwell postulated that the two camps at Woodhead may represent a compound for timber logging, perhaps connected with the construction of the Flavian fort at Elginhaugh, lying 7km to the north (1981: 44–5; 1983: 180–1; see above, Chapter 2.2).

R H Jones.