Tinnis Hill

NT61SE 17 6637 1096.

(NT 6640 1096) Ancient Earthwork (NAT)

This earthwork is situated at a height of 800ft OD on the E flank of Tinnis Hill. It is oval on plan and has been almost obliterated by cultivation. With the aid of air photographs it can be interpreted as having originally been formed by the ditch with a bank on either side; today, however, the only remains of a ditch and the outer bank are some very faint traces which appear on the N. The inner bank, which encloses an area measuring 220ft from NE to SW by 150ft transversely, is spread to a width of 20ft and stands to a maximum height of 3 1/2ft. There is an entrance 14ft wide on the E. The interior is featureless.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1947.

This is undoubtedly a settlement. The inner bank is as described by the RCAHMS while the outer bank is now visible as a slight scarp on the S, W, and partially on the E where it merges with a natural slope. On the NE side, however, the bank is evident, albeit slight, and is connected to the inner bank, at the N side of the entrance, by one of a more substantial nature. Although the outer bank has undoubtedly existed in the field to the N, it has been destroyed by cultivation. In the interior are the sites of at least two possible huts (? surface quarrying).

(Visible on RAF air photograph 106G. Scot. UK 19: 3366-7 {flown 1946}) Resurveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS(RD) 17 February 1967.

A settlement as described in the previous field report. The sites of three probable huts are visible in the interior.

Visited by OS(JP) 13 July 1973.

NT 6637 1098. The settlement has been deep ploughed and it is now covered by young conifers. The outlines of the predominately earthen banks are still evident although they are now sliced by 2.0m wide and 0.9m deep ditches which are 2.0m apart. The entrance area and the interior detail have been effaced by these forestry ditches.

Surveyed at 1:10,000.

Visited by OS(MJF) 10 October 1979.