Howthat Burn
Scooped Settlement (Iron Age)
Site Name Howthat Burn
Classification Scooped Settlement (Iron Age)
Alternative Name(s) Howthat Hill
Canmore ID 66951
Site Number NY19SW 10
NGR NY 14492 90129
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/66951
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Applegarth
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NY19SW 10 1448 9012.
(NY 1448 9012) Earthwork (NR)
OS 6"map, (1957)
See also NY19SW 55.
Enclosure formed by an earth-and-stone bank, much spread, enclosing an area 114' by 110', with two entrances 26' apart and each about 9' wide, opening on the lowest level from the direction of Howthat Burn. At the N end there is a small hut-like recess in the bank with, to the W of it, low mounds which suggest small enclosures.
RCAHMS 1920
At the base of a slight slope beside a small stream a grass-covered bank encloses an area 42.0m NNW-SSE by 34.0m transversely. Constructed of earth-and-stone, the bank generally stands c. 1.0m high although it is now visible as a scarp on the E, and the inner edge on the N has been robbed and mutilated. There are two breaks on the W side, either of which may be the original entrance. Although rig-and-furrow cultivation covers the interior, it was probably a homestead.
Resurveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (R D) 11 January 1972
Field Visit (14 August 1912)
Fort, Dalmakethar.
This fort crosses the neck of a low promontory which projects on the 400 feet contour line on the west of Longerhallis Hill, about ½ mile south-south-east of Dalmakethar. On the north it overlooks the deep ravine of a burn, and on the south and west it is protected by steep natural slopes. It is now covered by a young plantation, and the only defences traceable are an outer trench 28 feet wide and 5 feet and 3 feet deep below the crests of scarp and counterscarp respectively, running from the edge of the ravine across the neck, with a convex outline to the east; a rampart some 5 feet in height ; a slighter mound 40 feet in rear of it ; and, separated by a shallow trench 17 feet in width, another low mound. The two inner mounds are very slight and noticeable only towards the edge of the ravine.
RCAHMS 1920, visited 14 August 1912.
OS 6" map, Dumf., 2nd ed, (1900).
Field Visit (16 July 1990)
NY 1448 9012 NY19SW 10
This settlement is situated on the lower SW flank of Howthat Hill, on level ground to the E of the Howthat Burn. Subcircular on plan, it measures 42m from NNW to SSE by 34m transversely within an earth-and-stone bank spread up to 5m in thickness and standing up to 0.4m in height. The original entrance is situated on the WSW and measures 3.8m in width; a slighter break to the N is of more recent date. The interior of the settlement has been cultivated.
Visited by RCAHMS (SMF) 16 July 1990.
Listed as settlement.
RCAHMS 1997.
