Description

The monument is a group of four well preserved hut circles of the Bronze Age. They lie on a steep W facing slope above the Scaftigill water. Three of the circles (B-D) lie in a N to S line relatively close together on a level shelf. The fourth (A) lies 50m to the NNE, levelled into the hillside.

Hut circle A is 9.5m in overall diameter with a bank 1.5m wide and 0.6m high; evidence of internal and external stone facing survives. The entrance, on the SE side, has a small 4.5m wide annexe built onto it. Hut circles B, C and D are very similar to each other in size and layout, having a 9.5m diameter with a bank 1.5m wide and 0.7m high. Once again the banks have evidence of internal and external stone facing. The entrances are in the SE quadrants. There are no visible traces of contemporary cultivation around or between the hut circles but excavation has shown that scattered remains of activities associated with the occupation of the settlement are likely to survive.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because the structural details of the hut circles seem very well preserved. The circles are very good examples of their type. They are of particular interest because of the layout of the settlement; one circle, built with an annexe, is detached from the other three which do not have annexes and lie close together. An opportunity clearly exists on this site to examine the differing functions of buildings and, possibly, differences in social position of groups within the settlement as expressed by differences in the siting of dwellings. The monument is of national importance to the themes of late prehistoric settlement and society. Taken with the hut circles to the S near Auchencar, they are of national importance to the themes of the development and organisation of the prehistoric landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NR 83 NE 8.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland