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Shoulder Hill
Cultivation Remains (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Shoulder Hill
Classification Cultivation Remains (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 280415
Site Number NT82SW 152
NGR NT 82464 23476
NGR Description From NT 8219 2379 to NT 8262 2318
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/280415
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Morebattle
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
NT82SW 152 from 8219 2379 to 8262 2318
An extensive area of contour cultivation spreads over the generally steep NE, W and SW-facing slopes of Shoulder Hill, which forms the watershed between the Atton Burn and the Elghope Burn, and E onto the NW-facing slopes of Black Hill.
On the NE slopes of Shoulder Hill, overlooking the Elghope Burn, the lower limit of the contour cultivation is encroached upon by an area of cross-contour rig (NT82SW 106) occupying the low ground by the burn. On the NW end and over the W-facing slope, the contour cultivation drops down into the saddle between Shoulder Hill and Percy Law to the W. Further S, on the W and SW-facing slopes of Shoulder Hill, the lower limit of the cultivation is marked by a network of drainage channels feeding into an unnamed tributary of the Atton Burn. To the SE, between the drainage channels and the Butter Sike, the lower limit of cultivation is again encroached upon by the upper extents of areas of cross-contour rig (NT82SW 56 and NT82SW 159). The Butter Sike forms the E edge of the cultivation on the S side of Shoulder Hill.
To the NE of the summit of Shoulder Hill the cultivation becomes fainter before fading out for some 250m to the E. From here the cultivation continues, intermittently, until reaching the SW flank of Black Hill where it adjoins a further block of contour cultivation (NT82SW 123) which may be the continuation of the same system. The cultivation remains stops short of the possible unenclosed platform settlement (NT82NW 105), but are unlikely to have continued further N as they would have had to narrow, besides which terracing on the W slopes returns NE round the spur. The possible unenclosed platform settlement could thus be contemporary with the terracing, making good use of space that could not otherwise be cultivated effectively
The character of the cultivation varies considerably over the hill, and five principal areas may be distinguished.
On the NE slope of Shoulder Hill, between NT 8213 2360 and NT 8260 2341, the cultivation averages 7m in width and stands up to 0.6m in height.
Over the lower, moderate to moderately steep S-facing slope of Shoulder Hill, between NT 8227 2308 and 8247 2291 and covering an area measuring 260m from NW to SE by 220m, the cultivation averages 6m in width and stands up to 0.7m in height. There is internal stressing with rigs measuring between 3m and 4m in width between furrows 1m wide and 0.2m in depth.
On a moderate to moderately steep slope, between NT 8245 2322 and NT 8261 2318, between the above area and the palisaded enclosure crowning Shoulder Hill (NT82SW 1), and covering an area measuring 200m from E to W by 140m, the cultivation comprises terraces measuring 7m in width and standing up to 0.7m in height but lacking any indication of internal stressing.
The cultivation occupying the steep N-facing slope between Shoulder Hill and the massif to the E, between NT 8270 2335 and 8288 2319, spreads over an area measuring 200m from E to W by 150m. The cultivation averages 4m in width and stands up to 0.7m in height. There is evidence of internal stressing, with rigs averaging between 0.9m and 1.3m between furrows 0.5m wide and 0.15m deep.
In the extreme NE, on the moderate W-facing slopes of the SW flank of Black Hill, over an area measuring 520m from NNE to SSW by 150m, the cultivation averages 4m in width and stands up to 0.6m in height.
Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 25 March 1987
RCAHMS MS. 2598. No. 6/052