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Castle O'er Estate

Linear Earthwork(S) (Iron Age)

Site Name Castle O'er Estate

Classification Linear Earthwork(S) (Iron Age)

Alternative Name(s) Castle O'er

Canmore ID 67400

Site Number NY29SW 32

NGR NY 23919 92545

NGR Description Centred NY 23919 92545, ; 23937 92543; 24245 93434

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/67400

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Dumfries And Galloway
  • Parish Eskdalemuir
  • Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
  • Former District Annandale And Eskdale
  • Former County Dumfries-shire

Archaeology Notes

Scheduled (with NY29SW 10) as 'Castle O'er, fort and linear earthworks...'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 13 March 2010.

Activities

Field Visit (August 1980)

Castle O'er Estate

The existence of linear earthworks around Castle O'er fort (NY29SW 10) was first noted by William Roy in the mid-eighteenth century. In 1896, Richard Bell, a local antiquary, recorded an extensive system of 'trenches' on a map of the Castle O'er estate; this map is now in the Dumfries Museum and is reproduced here in amended form as map 3. The following features recorded on the map have been identified on the ground or on air photographs:

A NY 241 927 to 241 925; this linear earthwork, which runs S from the fort outwork, survives in a forestry ride.

B NY 243 928 to 244 928; this linear earthwork, which runs E from the fort to Brunt Sike, survives in a forestry ride.

C NY 240 928 to 244 932; part of this linear earthwork survives immediately W of the fort, and what is probably an extension of the work is visible on air photographs to the NE.

D NY 242 926; traces of an enclosure recorded by Bell attached to A, are visible on air photographs.

E NY 238 925 to 240 924; traces of a linear feature are visible on air photographs.

I NY 241 933 to 242 934; traces of a linear feature are visible on air photographs.

Although many of the features recorded by Bell appear to be old roads, tracks and stream gullies, there can be little doubt that large areas around the Castle O’er fort were once enclosed by linear earthworks in conjunction with natural features. Two of the linear earthworks (A and B) were probably constructed later than the annexes to Castle O'er Fort, but this need not preclude them from being broadly contemporary with a phase of the occupation of the fort.

RCAHMS 1980, visited August 1980

(SRO, RHP 9629; Roy 1793, 120;Stat. Acct., xii, 1794, 607; Fraser 1878, ii, 467-8; Armstrong 1883, 147 and Appendix, p. viii, no. iii; Christison 1898, 159-62, 360-2; Bell 1905; RCAHMS 1920, pp. 71-3, Nos. 176-7; NMRS, DFD/156/1, DFD/157/1, DFD/303/39-4-2)

Note (1997)

NY 24 93 NY29SW 32

Listed as linear earthworks (with NY29SW 41-5 and NY29SE 67-72).

RCAHMS 1997.

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