Auchope

NT82SE 34 from 85071 21415 to 85093 2134

An unusual settlement is situated on the edge of the terrace of the Sourhope Burn, at its confluence with the Broomy Sike. It measures about 50m across and is defined by a low bank on the W and N; on the E and S it is bounded by the valleys of the watercourses. A recent stone-built sheep stell lies over the central and SW part of the enclosure. The bank is parallelled by a causewayed ditch on the SW. A further ditch lies outside the bank on the NW. Near the centre of the enclosure there is a raised platform, which is scooped in its centre; this may be the remains of a circular house. The enclosure is deeply scooped in its SE part.

Information from SDD (HBM) February 1991.

A subrectangular enclosed settlement lies on a gentle slope at the corner of a river terrace on the SW of the Shorthope Sike overlooking the confluence with the Sourhope Burn. A moderately steep to steep slope rises behind the settlement on the W.

The site is partially enclosed by a bank on the uphill, or NW, side and by a double bank on the SW. On the NE and SE the settlement is delimited by the natural scarp of the river terrace and it is possible that river erosion has destroyed the original extents of the enclosure on these sides. The site is overlain by a sheepfold, measuring 34m from NE to SW by 30m which has an entrance on the N.

The present extent of the enclosure covers an area measuring 46m from NW to SE by 42m with natural scarps and banks spread up to 3m in width. There is no obvious entrance into the enclosure. Although erosion and reuse as a sheepfold have confused the interior, a number of structures are visible, mostly within the area of the sheepfold. At the upper end of the enclosure there is a large platform (1) measuring 11m in diameter within traces of a low bank spread up to 1.5m in width and a slight back scarp. Immediately downhill to the SW, there is a second platform (2) levelled into the slope. It measures about 8m in diameter and has a shallow rear scarp. A further possible platform (3) lies to the SE ofplatform (2) and S of platform (1) but is truncated by the later sheepfold. The surviving chord of the back scarp measures 6m from SW to NE. An irregular sunken yard area lying between the three platforms measures 18m from NE to SW by up to 9m. Outwith the sheepfold are a further two possible structures. A fourth platform (4) is suggested by the slight remains of a crescentic back scarp close to the eroded terrace edge. The surviving chord suggests a platform measuring over 11m in diameter. On the SW side of the enclosure, hard against the enclosing bank, there is a diminutive structure (5), possibly truncated on the NE by the sheepfold. It measures 3m from NE to SW by 5m overall and has a small central hollow. The appearance of a second bank beyond this structure is due to cultivation of the hillside and the build up of deposits over a natural gully.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 22 March 1987

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 20/240