Kip Knowe

from 84042 23177 to 84048 23111

(NT 8403 2313) Settlement (NR)

OS 6" map, (1962).

This settlement is situated on a small level shelf on the summit of Kip Knowe. The remains consist of fragments of enclosure walls of different periods within which are the foundations of a circular hut, 30' in diameter over a drystone wall 3'6" thick. In the NW half of the site the oldest enclosure wall is represented by a curvilinear mound (I on RCAHMS 1956 plan, fig.443) pierced near the centre by an entrance 10' wide which leads into a small, scooped court. This wall was originally boulder-faced, but all except one of the facing-stones have been robbed with the result that the rubble core has spread to a maximum thickness of 12'6".

On the S side of the entrance this wall is capped by the foundations of a later drystone wall (II), 3' thick, which run on for 67' until interrupted by a 20' gap caused by the robbery of stones to build an adjacent modern cairn; beyond the gap the foundations are again traceable returning NE for 50'. At that point they finally die out. The turf dyke (III) which forms the SE boundary of a rectangular field, is still later in date, since it over-rides the walls of both the first and the second period, but the field itself is older than the rig cultivation that covers the NW and SW flanks of the hill.

The SE half of the site is bounded by a scarp, partly natural and partly artificial, which is pierced by a hollow track at the SE apex. Traces of stone revetment can be seen at the foot of the scarp on the SW side of the track, and there are indications of a narrow dry- stone wall on the lip of the scarp SE of the hut.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1947.

As described above.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 23 August 1960.

This settlement is situated in a small clearing in an area now afforested; otherwise no change.

Revised at 1:10 000.

Visited by OS (TRG) 12 August 1976.

An enclosed settlement occupies a small, level shelf on the summit of Kip Knowe. The site is sheltered by the steep rising ground of The Gable on the NE but to the NW and SW the hillside falls away steeply to the floor of the Atton Burn some 75m below. On the SE there is a moderately steep drop down to the Dry Slack. The old road from Clifton to Auchope passes the NE angle of the settlement. The whole area around the settlement has been afforested. A later rectangular enclosure (NT82SW 185) overlies the settlement on the NW.

The settlement measures 62m from N to S by 42m within a low rubble-spread bank in varying states of preservation. Outwith the bounds of the later rectangular enclosure, from the NE through to the SW, the bank is spread up to 3.75m in width and is devoid of any-facing stones. Within, the bank has been reduced to a low rocky scarp pierced by a 3m wide entrance. Between the entrance and the S corner of the later enclosure, the wall-base is better defined and continues outwith the enclosure, except where the wall has been robbed to construct a marker cairn, returning NE along the foot of the N side of the low rocky scarp. Previous interpretation (RCAHMS 1956) had identified two phases of enclosure on the strength of the preservation of the respective wall sections. It is more likely, however, that the settlement is defined by a single enclosure wall which has been more heavily denuded within the centre of the later enclosure than outside or around the edge of it. At the time of the present survey, the previously noted traces of a revetment and isolated-facing stones on the SE side of the low scarp were not identified. The 3m wide entrance on the NW angle of the enclosure leads into a shallow scooped area some 12m long by between 4m and 8m wide at its base. Vestigial traces of platforms (1 and 2) flank either side of the depression. Outside the later enclosure wall five circular house-stances are indicated. Two (3 and 4) lie between the later enclosure bank and the return of the main enclosure wall at the base of the scarp. Vestigial traces of a third (5) lie between house-stance (4) and a fifth structure (6) which lies at the SE edge of the site. At least a further two houses (7 and 8) lie to the SW on the top of the low rocky outcrop. There is no strong evidence for a complex occupation sequence on the site.

Traces of a platform (1) measuring 7m in diameter, were identified immediately SE of the sunken entrance passage. No detail was visible on the ground at the time of survey although oblique air photographs (D Harding, University of Edinburgh) reveal an enclosing wall broken by an entrance on the NNW.

Vestigial traces of a second platform (2), measuring 7.2m in diameter, were identified by ground survey on the NE side of the sunken entrance way opposite platform (1). The nature of this platform is not readily apparent from aerial photographs.

Lying between the later enclosure bank and the NE return of the settlement enclosure wall at the base of the rocky scarp are the remains of two circular house-stances.

The W house-stance (3) comprises a level platform, 6m in diameter, which is defined on the SE side by a low arc of a bank which is 1m wide and whose chord is 8m long. Again aerial photographs (D Harding, University of Edinburgh) enhance the detail known, suggesting an entrance possibly on the NE.

Situated about 10m to the E of (3), this house-stance (4) is the best preserved in the settlement, and the only structure identified by the RCAHMS (1956). It measures 6.4m from E to W by 6m transversely within a low bank spread up to 2.2m in width. There is a 1.3m wide entrance on the W side. NW from the S side

The vestigial traces of a third possible house-stance (5) lie only 0.7m to the SW of the previous structure. Sheltering in the lee of a low rock outcrop to the NE, it measures 8m from E to W by 7.5m including the faint traces of a low enclosing scarp on the SW angle of the platform.

Crowning the low scarp on the SE side of the settlement, this house-stance (6), which measures 7.2m in diameter, comprises a low drystone bank spread up to 2m in diameter on the E and S sides with a much smaller bank, up to 0.9m wide continuing through the W and N angles. There is a 1.6m wide entrance on the ENE side between the two wall types. The thicker S and E angles of this hut were identified by the RCAHMS (1956) as representing a narrow drystone enclosure-wall occupying the lip of the scarp on the SE side of the site.

This house-stance (7) lies at the NE end of the low rocky outcrop and measures 8.6m from N to S by 8m transversely internally. Like house-stance (6) it is defined on the S side by a relatively substantial bank spread up to 2.2m in width; whereas over much of the remainder of its circuit it survives as a much slighter scarp, some 0.6m in width. The entrance may have lain on the NW where the scarp is not visible. On the S, the house-stance may overlie, and truncate, a second less substantial stance perched on the very edge of the scarp. It comprises a low bank spread up to 1.5m with an internal diameter of at least 5.5m.

A low platform (8), measuring 4m in diameter, survives towards the SW edge of the low rocky outcrop W of house-stance (7). It is cut off from the remainder of the outcrop by a broad trough, measuring between 1.6m and 3m in width and possibly represents a hut-stance.

The settlement would seem to comprise a single enclosure wall with no clear sequence amongst the house-stances occupying the interior. With the enclosing wall undefined on the SE angle, the settlement may spread beyond the confines of the enclosure onto the summit of the low knoll.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 23 March 1987

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 13/143