Knowe Of Blairnain

The remains of a field system have been recorded on the Knowe of Blairnain, a hillock situated to the north-west of Meikle Conval. In 1971, the Ordnance Survey recorded the remains of a network of field plots, measuring about 15m by 10m. These were largely defined by stone clearance heaps and lynchets, which is the term used to describe the slight scarp found at the limits of ploughing. In other places, there were traces of earthen field banks.

Toward the eastern edges of the fields there are four stone-walled hut circles, which range from about 9.5m to around 13.7m in diameter.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NJ23NE 5 275 382.

Centred at NJ 275 382 is a settlement of four circular stone walled huts and a contemporary field system.

Hut 'A' measures 12.7m in diameter internally with a wall 1.1m thick in which several inner and outer facing stones are evident. The simple entrance in the E is flanked on each side by two earthfast stones and is 1.1m wide.

'B' is about 9.5m in diameter between the centres of a mutilated wall spread to an indeterminate width, which is cut in the E by a drain. The entrance in the NW is ill defined. Modern field clearance stones are piled against the W arc.

'C' is 13.9m in diameter internally within a wall 1.6m thick with outer and inner facing stones visible intermittently. The simple entrance in the E, 2.0m wide, is flanked on each side by a single stone, that on the S side lying prostrate.

'D' is about 10.0m in diameter between the centres of a wall spread to about 2.5m where best preserved in the W, but obliterated by peat in the NE. The entrance is not evident.

The field system comprises stone clearance heaps, lynchets and an occasional field wall, with cultivation plots varying between about 40.0m by about 30.0m and about 15.0m by about 10.0m.

Huts surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 6 April 1971.