Hurl Burn

There are cultivation terraces about 200 yds east of Hurl Burn and 300 yds above the road.

A Graham 1939

NS 942 202: Unenclosed Platform Settlement: On the NW flank of Mid Hill there is an unenclosed platform settlement ranged along the 300m contour from the Lintshie Gutter westwards to within 350m of the Hurl Burn. The thirteen platforms shown in RCAHMS 1978 fig.34 represent only the surviving elements of what was originally a much larger settlement extending further to the E beyond the stone wall that forms the W boundary of enclosed fields E of the Lintshie Gutter; cultivation, however, has virtually obliterated all traces of the platforms in this area, but a number of shallow depressions, too indefinite to plan, which mark their sites can still be seen on the surface of the ground.

At the W end of the settlement there is a compact group of nine platforms, disposed on three levels, the upper and middle tiers each having four platforms and the lower tier one. They range in width from 15.2m to 11.6m, the rear and front scarps reaching maximum heights of 2.9m and 2.1m respectively. The E half of the settlement contains four scattered platforms of similar average size, three of them on approximately the same level as the W group of nine, and the fourth well below them, 35m WSW of an electricity transmission pylon.

RCAHMS 1978, visited July 1970

RCAHMS surveyed 13 of the unenclosed platforms W of Lintshie Gutter (area centred NS 9430 2026) on 21 July 1970 at a scale of 1mm:1ft. The resultant plans were redrawn in ink and published in the County Inventory of Lanarkshire (RCAHMS 1978) as Fig. 34.

A stone disc bead from this unenclosed platform settlement was donated to the NMAS in 1970-1 by G S Maxwell (RCAHMS).

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1974

NS 944 203. A total of 26 hut platforms, forming a single linear settlement, were found extending around the N facing 300 ft contour. A further five, formed by only a single uphill or downhill scarp are suspected.

On the pastured but formerly cultivated slopes on the E side of the Lintshie Gutter are ten platforms extending over a distance of 300m. They appear only superficially spread by plough; there is no evidence that others may have been ploughed out. Ranging from 11.0-20.0m in width, their front and rear scarps are similar in height range to those described.

Sixteen platforms, together with the five possibles, were located on the W side of the Lintshie Gutter for a distance of 250m. They are generally as described, and are confused with later detail, but along and below the settlement line to the N and particularly in area NS 942203 there are definite though intermittent traces of a contemporary field system with positive and negative lynchets.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (JRL) 16 August 1978

Detailed survey of several sites in the area prior to the M74 motorway.

NS92SW 28 c.944 203.

This settlement consists of up to 32 platforms strung along the 300m contour lies on the north-facing slope of Mid Hill near Crawford. A total of nine potential house platforms were investigated in five specific areas of trenching where information would be lost to the new motorway. Trench A over platform 14 (at NS 9488 2047) revealed two phases of single ring-groove defined buildings of very approximately 8.00m diameter (based on the slim surviving evidence preserved only at the rear of the platform). Two corresponding floor surfaces were also present.

Platform 13 (at NS 9484 2047), excavated in Trench B was better preserved and a more complete plan survived for a double ring-groove hut of 8.oom internal diameter, with an entrance on the west side. Seven post holes formed an internal post-ring for support of the roof.

Trench C, opened up over platform 1, (at NS 9467 2044), revealed remains for the base of an oval stone walled enclosure, measuring 18.00m along the contour axis and 13.00m across. Phosphate and magnetic susceptibility samples were taken over the better preserved rear part of the platform and it is hoped their analysis will further the tentative interpretation of a stock enclosure offered as a function for this non-house platform. Four platforms were exposed or at least partially exposed in Trench D.

Platform 5, (at NS 9456 2043), was remarkably well preserved, with its construction 'scooped' entirely into the hillside with no evidence for a protruding front apron dump. A single hut of 9.00m internal diameter was built upon this stance, incorporating a double ring-groove around the back and a single post-trench for the front wall with opposing entrances. The rear double wall was built on a ledge running around the back of the platform. An occupation layer survived over the rear of the building, mainly composed of rake-outs from an oven built into the back of the hut. Numerous sherds of pottery including two complete vessels were recovered from this occupation detritus, particularly about the east entrance, through which the oven cleanings has been removed. The plan of the internal post-holes allows eight posts (marked in black) to form a convincing evenly spaced post-ring respecting both entrances. Additional posts, some indicating up to three reuses, may be interpreted as part of a continuous sequence of repairs to the fabric of this building. A small hearth west of centre was the only other internal feature, but other areas of activity may yet be revealed by the magnetic susceptibility and phosphate samples.

Platform 6, (at NS 9455 2041), was not excavated as it lay beyond the development threat. However, topsoil was removed over the front to confirm its archaeological nature and standard platform construction. The platform 7 (at NS 9451 2041), complex was made up of two platforms, where a primary platform with traces of a double ring-groove was superseded by a later platform built over the back of the earlier one.

A midden dump containing substantial quantities of pottery had been utilised in building up the front apron for the later platform. Unfortunately little remained of the structure on this platform, however, the remains of a circular stone base for a wall may be linked with the second hut built on the neighbouring platform 8 stance, (at NS 9450 2041).

Platform 8 had been the stance for two phases of hut construction, as indicated by single intercutting ring-grooves preserved at the back of the platform. Evidence for an internal post-ring was not present, although only half of this platform was uncovered, primarily to establish any relationship with platform 7 remains.

A trench (at NS 9489 2052), to the far E of the settlement over two potential neighbouring platforms, on excavation revealed a very modern dump to have formed the terracing, probably related to the present A74. Preliminary analysis of the unusually large assemblage of pottery recovered from this type of site (in excess of 250 sherds) indicates a date for this settlement in the region of 1500-1200 BC (C14 dates pending). The reuse of platforms and the constant repair of huts tends to imply a fairly intensive settlement of this hillside over the Mid to Late Bronze Age.

Sponsor:SOIn Roads, Historic Scotland.

J Terry 1991.

NS 94 20 A watching brief was conducted in November 1993 in order to monitor the felling and subsequent removal of two electricity towers, XA200 and XA201, on the 275kv transmission line between Strathaven and Harker. Both towers were situated within the scheduled area which contains this extensive settlement. Scheduled monument consent was obtained before the start of work.

The complete superstructures were felled, but damage was restricted to the topsoil. All materials were then removed by helicopter, thus minimising ground disturbance. Excavations to remove the four concrete foundation blocks. which extended 1.Om below ground, were to affect only those areas previously disturbed during construction. However, the excavation of small areas of undisturbed ground adjacent to the original foundation trench was unavoidable. This allowed the surrounding deposits to be viewed in section, prior to removal of the foundation itself.

Tower XA200 was situated at the periphery of the settlement, at the N boundary of the scheduled area. It was therefore possible to fell the tower northwards and outwith the sensitive area. Excavation of the foundations revealed nothing of archaeological significance. A fairly shallow topsoil, c 0.1m in depth, overlay a subsoil of yellow-grey sand and gravels which continued below the excavated depth of 1.Om from ground surface. No artefacts were recovered and no features were noted.

Tower XA201 was located at the E boundary of the scheduled area, downslope from the northernmost identified platform. The presence of a drystone dyke, which forms the eastern boundary of the scheduled area, required the tower to be felled westwards. This caused minimal damage to the turfline. No archaeological remains were identified during removal of the foundation blocks. The topsoil, 0.1m in depth, overlay an identical sand and gravel deposit to that identified at tower XA200.

The foundation trenches were then backfilled and the topsoil reinstated. The use of only two tracked vehicles, one required to excavate the foundations and one to dissemble the metal structure of the tower, resulted in a minimal amount of damage to the ground surface.

Sponsor: Scottish Power plc.

CFA 1994t.

Rescue excavation at this Bronze Age field monument near Crawford, Lanarkshire, organized by Historic Scotland ahead of the M74/M6 motorway construction, and financed by Scottish Office Industry Department (Roads Directorate), has revealed a variety of platform structures indicative of some degree of differential use of the buildings. Radiocarbon results obtained from four of the platforms suggest an occupational history running from a possible Late Neolithic date through to the Middle Bronze Age period. An intensive and sustained period of settlement on this north-facing hillside is also indicated from the repair and rebuilding phases recorded on most of the excavated platforms. A large and important domestic Bronze Age pottery assemblage was recovered, which included some vessel types previously found on funerary sites. Environmental data collected from extensive sampling revealed evidence of local woodland exploitation and cultivation of barley in association with the settlement.

Traces of cultivation terraces are recorded below the platforms to the west of Lintshie Gutter (National Monuments Record of Scotland: NS 92 SW 28). However, there appears to have been some confusion with earlier records. Angus Graham (1939, 314) records the presence of cultivation terraces about 200 yds (183 m) east of Hurl Burn and 300 yds (274 m) above the road (referring to the old Carlisle road through the village). But these co-ordinates, even allowing for minor error, are more in line with the position of the platforms. Certainly, if observed from the road (Graham 1939, 289), the linear arrangement of the platforms could easily be construed as cultivation terraces, especially at a time before the general recognition (RCAHMS 1967) of the unenclosed platform settlement as a monument class. Hence later observations of the site, recorded in the National Monuments Record of Scotland, have rather unwisely cited the various humps and bumps of the unimproved ground below the platforms as evidence of this terracing and therefore introduced a field system contemporary with the platforms. Unfortunately this misidentification of a field system has found its way on to Ordnance Survey maps.

J Terry 1995