Shoulder Hill

NT82SW 1 from 82462 23358 to 82519 23265

(NT 82490 23329) Homestead (NR)

OS 6" map, (1962).

The remains of a palisaded homestead containing three timber-walled huts occupy the flat top of a small knoll that crowns the summit of Shoulder Hill. Only about one half of the enclosing palisade is still visible, the rest having been obliterated by former cultivation. The surviving part, however, which consists of a slight depression, 1' wide and 6" deep, does include the entrance gap, which is set at right angles to the line of the palisade, the ends overlapping on each side of it. The three huts are defined by grooves, from 18" to 2' wide and a few inches deep, enclosing areas 25', 30' and 32' in diameter, one of the larger ones being partly obliterated. (See RCAHMS 1956 plan, fig.456).

Palisaded homesteads were occupied in the first millenium B C. (A Ritchie 1970).

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1950; R W Feachem 1965.

This palisaded homestead is as described.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 17 August 1960.

No change to the previous authorities.

Revised at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (TRG) 12 August 1976.

The remains of a palisaded enclosure occupy a small knoll on the summit of Shoulder Hill. The ground falls away gently to both the NW and SE of the palisaded enclosure. Elsewhere generally steep slopes, particularly on the NE and SW fall away to the watercourses far below. Contour cultivation (NT82SW 152) covers much of the surrounding slopes. The RCAHMS (1956) recorded a univallate palisaded enclosure on the hilltop. They noted an unusual overlap in the palisade on the NW side, interpreting it as an entrance despite the lack of known parallels. In the light of the current survey, this feature may be linked to the recognised series of palisades.

Traces of four palisade slots survive, particularly on the SE through to NW sides of the hilltop. Cultivation, including an area of cord rig (NT82SW 51), has destroyed any surface traces of these features on the NE and E sides of the knoll. The innermost slot describes an enclosure distinct from anything defined by the outer three palisade slots which encompass more of the hilltop to the N. This inner enclosure is some 70m long but remains undetected on the E flank whilst the three concentric outer palisades take in an area some 110m in length by 38m in width. The relationship between these two circuits is undefined.

There are up to six house-stances situated towards the N end of the inner enclosure. They mostly comprise shallow hollows or scoops and incomplete stretches of ring-grooves but there are two well-preserved and roughly circular double ring-groove structures (1) and (2) at the extreme N end of the enclosure. Both post-date the univallate palisaded enclosure as their outer ditches break the circuit of the slot. They may also post-date the other more ephemeral structural remains within the inner enclosure. A track crosses the site from SE to NW.

A well-defined double ring-groove house (1) overlies the NW angle of the innermost palisade enclosure. The outer ring-groove is incomplete, particularly on the SW angle and defines an area measuring 13m in diameter. There is a low bank up to 2m wide between the outer and inner ring-grooves. The inner groove defines an area of some 9m in diameter and is broken on the N although there is no discernible entrance.

The double ring-groove house (2), which lies immediately to the NE, is less well defined. Only the N half of the outer ring-groove survives suggesting an area measuring some 12m in diameter. Again the outer groove is separated from the inner groove by a 2m wide bank. The floor area within has a diameter of about 8m. Both the inner groove and the bank are broken on the SW and N sides; the latter probably marking the entrance.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 25 March 1987

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 12/110