Newton Wood

NJ81NW 64 centred 8214 1713

See also NJ81NW 63.

The grass-covered remains of a possible early settlement have been recorded on a gentle SE-facing slope in an area of rough grazing. There are later hut-bases within the area.

NMRS, MS/712/24.

(Classification amended to Hut-circles; Small Cairns; Buildings; Pottery). The remains of at least four, but possibly as many as six, hut-circles and thirteen rectangular buildings are situated in a field of rough pasture about 200m NW of Newtonmuir farmsteading. The buildings are of two types, nine of them being substantial subrectangular structures, and the other four much slighter and more strictly rectangular. In addition there are the remains of a field-system comprising low stony banks and small cairns.

Three of the hut-circles (NJ 8217 1711, 8220 1711, & 8221 1707) are situated on the highest part of the field, but the fourth (NJ 8216 1712) lies on the short, but steep, slope that drops down to the N. The walls of the hut-circles, which measure between 5m and 6m in internal diameter, have been reduced to low stony banks. Where visible, the entrances are on the E or NE. Short lengths of bank apparently link several of the hut-circles.

Five of the subrectangular buildings are clustered towards the E, close by the hut-circles, indeed one of them overlies a hut-circle. The other four lie to the W, two of them in the Forestry Commission plantation to the W of the farm track to Larrick. The walls of the buildings appear to have been faced with stone, but they also contain a substantial earthen component. In general they are reduced to little more than grass-grown banks, and the facing-stones have been widely robbed. Of the eastern group, all are subrectangular on plan, measuring between 14m and 16m in length by up to 9m in breadth overall. Four of them are aligned roughly N and S, and, where visible, the entrance is on the W. One of these buildings, and the fifth, which is aligned E and W and is now open sided on the N, may have contained two compartments.

Of the four that lie to the W, the one in the pasture field (NJ 8208 1712) measures 16.5m from N to S by 7.5m transversely overall. The interior is divided into two compartments, and the entrance, which is in the E side, opens into the smaller at the S end of the building. The two in the woodland to the W (NJ 8200 1710 and 8202 1710) respectively measure about 20m and 17m in length, the former set on the top of a rocky knoll and each with a probable entrance in its E side. The fourth lay in the pasture field, but only the WNW end has survived the construction of the western of the two silage pits (NJ 8212 1712). Aligned E and W, it is visible on RAF vertical aerial photographs taken in 1953 (58 RAF 1296, prints 0047-48). (For a description of the pottery that was found during the construction of the pit see below).

The second type of building is restricted to the SW corner of the field, where there are probably at least four structures present. Three of them lie close to the S edge of the field, where a shallow ditch accompanying the adjacent field-bank, has destroyed the S sides of two of them. These measure about 7m and 10m in length respectively. The third, which also measures about 10m in length, has been heavily robbed at its WNW end. The fourth structure, which lies close to the westernmost of the other buildings in the field is the best preserved. It measures about 7m from E to W by 5m transversely overall and has an entrance in its N side.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS), 12 May 2003.

Some years ago, during the construction of the western of the two silage pits within the field, the father of Mr Johnstone, the present owner of the land, found nineteen sherds of pottery in a layer of dark soil. At least three different wares are represented, identified by a lug in one case, and rim sherds in the other two.

The pottery is described below.

1. Large sherd (96mm x 64mm x 11m) of a hard fabric with angular quartzite grits up to 6mm across, orange on the outer surface and charcoal grey on the interior, where horizontal striations may indicate a wipe with a damp cloth before firing. A lug with a rounded profile on the outer surface measures 52mm in length by 14mm in breadth and it extends 6mm out from the surface of the pot.

2-3. Two adjoining sherds (72mm x 63mm x 10mm) of a hard, well-fired flat rim up to 9.5mm in width and exhibiting a slight overhanging bead on the interior. Externally the rim drops vertically. The fabric is very gritty and contains angular quartzite grits up to 4mm across. The colour of the fabric is grey throughout.

4-5. Two adjoining sherds (91mm x 45mm x 12mm) of a hard, rounded rim, which Trevor Cowie of the Archaeology Department of the National Museums of Scotland suggests has been subject to reheating, perhaps by lying next to a hearth (pers comm). The fabric is grey and contains angular grits up to 4mm across.

6. In addition to this rim there is a body sherd (62mm x 44mm x 14mm) with a very similar fabric that bears traces of what may be a lug or part of a rim.

7-11. Other sherds include: five small sherds of gritty fabric with an orange exterior and dark grey interior. They measure 45mm x 23mm x 8mm; 33mm x 28mm x 6mm; 33mm x 15mm x 9mm; 32mm x 12mm x 8mm, & 26mm x 19mm x 8mm.

12-18. Seven sherds of gritty fabric that varies from orange to grey in colour but with a grey core. They measure 67mm x 54mm x 12mm; 57mm x 56mm x 13mm; 52mm by 48mm x 12mm; 55mm x 44mm x 12mm; 56mm by 31mm by 14mm; 46mm by 33mm by 14mm; & 52mm by 22mm by 12mm.

19. There is also one sherd (37mm x 37mm by 9mm), which has a grey core and is orange on its outer surface and blackened on its inner.

Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 12 May 2003.