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Watchman Hill
Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Watchman Hill
Classification Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 65775
Site Number NX98NE 7
NGR NX 964 876
NGR Description NX 9640 8760 and NX 9647 8759
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/65775
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Kirkmahoe
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Nithsdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NX98NE 7 9640 8760 and 9647 8759
(NX 9640 8760 & NX 9647 8759) Tumuli (NR)
OS 6" map (1957)
There are a number of heather-covered cairns on the shoulder of Watchman Hill, N of the wood and along the E and S slopes. Scott-Elliott notes a total of twenty-six cairns, 9-18 ft across, and two ring cairns, 16 and 18 ft in diameter. He adds that among the cairns are four sites which may be scooped dwellings.
J Scott-Elliot and I Rae 1967; RCAHMS 1920, visited 1913
NX 964 876. A group of about 40 low heather-covered 'cairns' occupy an area of 8.0 hectares on the gently sloping summit of Watchman Hill. The largest of these is 5.0m in diameter and 0.8m high.
Some of the cairns have been robbed apparently for nearby dyke building; this may well explain the 'ring cairns' noted by Scott-Elliott. There are many vague depressions on this heather-covered hillside; none can be identified as occupation sites but a number are evidently quarry scoops. There is no evidence of cultivation in the area nor any trace of kerbing in the cairns, which are similar though not so clearly defined as those at Whitestanes (NX98NE 5) to which the site can be closely allied. Surveyed at 1:10 000.
For discussion on the period and purpose of this type of monument, see NT05SE 3.
Visited by OS (BS) 1 August 1977.
