White Hill

This survey was undertaken to document an unusual large enclosure, possibly defined by a palisade, noted from aerial photographs. The enclosure and surrounding area was surveyed by RCAHMS using GPS at a scale of 1:2500. Visited by Dave Cowley, Strat Halliday, Alex Hale, Ian Parker and Julie Candy [19th, 20th, 21st February and March 28th 2002].

This unusual enclosure takes in the greater part of the narrow, steep-sided ridge which rises to 399m above sea level on White Hill, which is crowned by a fort (see NT03SE 15). The ridge is separated from the upland massif to the S by a U-shaped valley, while to the N the steep-sided valley of the Kilbucho Burn separates the ridge from the Hartree Hills. The enclosure takes in the relatively level crest of the ridge, its perimeter lying either at the top of the steeper slopes or a little way down the hillside and in some cases such as the SW, on very steep slopes. Most of the line of the perimeter runs along the contour, but in places it cuts across the slope, usually at a gentle angle. The enclosure is roughly oval and measures about 930m from NE to SW by between 160m and 75m across. The interior is widest at the SW end, narrowing in the central sector, where the ridge pinches in. The enclosure takes in about 10.6 ha.

The perimeter takes a variety of forms, in part reflecting the steepness of slope and in places cannot be traced on the ground. For much of the circuit the perimeter is visible as a narrow terrace cut into the hillside and interrupting the natural hill slope. In places where the slopes are shallower the terrace becomes a shallow trench, bounded on the upslope side by a slight scoop. This trench, or the narrow terrace, is a consistent feature of the perimeter and on the NW side (NT 0575 3411), where the perimeter runs along the edge of the flat-topped crest of the ridge, it is supplemented by a low internal bank built on the break of natural slope. It is assumed that the trench is a palisade slot supporting upright timbers, but in the absence of visible packing stone it is unknown whether it was continuous or not.

At the SW end the palisade trench rides into the back of a linear earthwork, and although it cannot be traced along the length of the earthwork it may overlie or be of a piece with it. The earthwork cuts across the gentlest line of approach to White Hill from the SW and is supplemented by an outer earthwork (see NT03SE 15). One of the two entrances to the enclosure cuts through this earthwork (NT 0539 3378) and a hollow trackway runs through it. The second entrance lies in the NE (NT 0617 3424) and is approached by a shallow hollow trackway from the S. Other gaps in the perimeter may be the product landslip on the steeper slopes and are unlikely to include any further entrances.

The interior of the enclosure is relatively featureless. Three discrete areas of small-scale surface stone quarrying can be seen (NT 0570 3404, NT 0587 3410, NT 0602 3416). One of the scoops in the central group of quarry hollows cuts through the enclosure perimeter (NT 0586 3407). Towards the NE end of the enclosure there are three small mounds, measuring up to 2m in diameter and 0.3m in height, the function and origin of which are not clear.

Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 28 March 2002

Visibility: This is an upstanding earthwork or monument.

Information from Scottish Borders Council