Description

The monument is the remains of a henge monument, of late Neolithic or early Bronze Age date (around 3000BC – 1500BC), and a Roman camp, dating to the 1st or 2nd centuries AD. Both have been recorded as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The bank of the henge monument also survives as low earthworks recorded on Airborne Laser Scanning data. The monument lies on level ground, at about 60m above sea level.

The henge monument is oval on plan, measuring about 45m from northwest to southeast by about 38m within a ditch and the slight remains of an external bank. The ditch is about 11m broad and the bank has spread to about 18m wide. Both are broken by opposing entrance gaps on the northwest and the southeast. The Roman camp measures about 120m from northwest to southeast by at least 103m. The north side has been removed by the railway and is no longer visible. There is an entrance with titulus (a detached segment of rampart opposite the entrance) on the southeast side of the camp and a second entrance gap on the southwest. The southwest side of the camp extends through the centre of the henge, with the southwest corner of the camp placed at one of the entrance gaps to the henge and a gap marking the camp gate at the other.

The scheduled area is irregular. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling runs up to but does not include the post and wire fence on the northwest. The scheduling specifically excludes the above ground elements of all fences and field gates and the top 30cm of all tracks to allow for their maintenance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The national importance of the monument is demonstrated in the following way(s) (see Designations Policy and Selection Guidance, Annex 1, para 17): 

 a.  The monument is of national importance because it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past, or has the potential to do so as the remains of a prehistoric henge monument and Roman camp. The henge is an important indicator of prehistoric activity in this region of Scotland during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age periods. It can help us understand more about prehistoric society and the nature of ceremony, ritual and belief systems. As part of the Roman strategic network of camps, forts, fortlets and signal stations, the Roman camp adds to our understanding of Roman military expansion into Scotland.

b.   The monument retains structural, architectural, decorative or other physical attributes which make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past. In particular there is good potential for the preservation of buried features and deposits relating to both the henge monument and the Roman camp, their use and abandonment.

c.   The monument is a rare example of a henge monument and camp built in the same location. The relationship of the camp to the henge is particularly unusual and is the only example of this kind known in Scotland.

d.   The monument is a particularly good example of a henge monument and Roman camp and is therefore an important representative of these monument types.

e.   The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past. The henge monument can tell us about the character, development and use of ritual sites, and the nature of prehistoric society, economy, social hierarchy and burial in this area of Scotland and further afield. Further research and investigation of the surviving buried remains have the potential to explain the precise chronology of this monument and may help to inform our understanding of the development of similar prehistoric sites across Scotland. The Roman camp can tell us about the character, layout and nature of Roman camps as well adding to our understanding of the lives of Roman soldiers on campaign. Further research and investigation of the surviving remains has the potential to explain the chronology of this site, helping to inform our understanding of Roman military occupation and control in Scotland. The relationship of the camp to the henge monument has the potential to add to our understanding of the relationship of the Roman invading force with the local population, the nature of Roman military control and the locational choices made by Roman engineers.

f.   The monument makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the historic landscape. The henge monument formed a prominent part of the prehistoric landscape and was a component of a larger complex of related, contemporary sites, reflecting settlement, agriculture, commemoration and ritual activity. The camp is part of a concentration of Roman remains around this location and adds to our understanding of the strategic importance of this area. As part of the wider Roman strategic network of military installations, it has the potential to add to our understanding of Roman military occupation during the period of the Roman incursions.

Assessment of Cultural Significance

This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:

Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past)

The monument is a prehistoric henge monument and Roman camp, recorded as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs and as low earthworks. Although the north-eastern section of the Roman camp has not been recorded, the overall plan of the camp and the henge is clear and understandable. The cropmarks indicate that the ditches of the henge and the camp survive below the topsoil.

Henge monuments are typically circular or sub-circular on plan defined by an external bank and internal ditch arrangement. Dating evidence indicates they were built during the late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age and they often had long development sequences, with multiple phases of use. They are sites of ritual significance and typically provide evidence of prehistoric ceremonial practices. Archaeological investigation of these types of monuments has confirmed that significant archaeological and environmental evidence can survive in the buried layers – deposits and artefacts such as pottery, flints and animal bone as well as botanical remains create an important overall assemblage.

Roman camps provided temporary accommodation for Roman soldiers on campaign during the Roman invasions of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. They comprised an open area in which soldiers pitched their tents in regularly arranged rows, enclosed within a rampart and ditch. Excavations of camps elsewhere have revealed the remains of Roman field ovens, rubbish pits and artefacts within the area enclosed and environmental remains within the ditch.

There is, therefore, potential for the survival of archaeological deposits including occupation and abandonment debris, artefacts and environmental remains such as charcoal and pollen within the ditch and the interior of the henge and the camp. The henge monument and associated archaeological deposits can help us understand much about prehistoric life - the lives, contacts, beliefs and practices of the people who built and used it, the events and ceremonies that took place here, and the phases of its use and re-use. Study of the henge monument's form and construction process compared with similar monuments would enhance our understanding of the development sequence of this site and the class of monument in general.

The remains of the Roman camp and associated archaeological deposits have the potential to provide information about the character, layout and functioning of the camp, as well as the lives of Roman soldiers on campaign. Any artefacts and environmental material would enhance understanding of contemporary economy, land-use and environment. Study of the Roman camp would allow us to develop a better understanding of the nature and chronology of the camp, including its date of construction and abandonment. It has the potential to add to our understanding of the character and nature of Roman military establishments in southern Scotland during the Roman occupation.

The relationship of the Roman camp to the henge monument is unusual and suggests that the henge survived as upstanding remains to some degree when the camp was built. Questions remain about the nature of this relationship and how the camp operated while incorporating the henge earthworks. In particular, the southwestern entrance of the camp opens onto the henge ditch and bank. The relationship of the camp to the henge, therefore, has the potential to tell us about the relationship of the Roman invading force to the local population, the locational choices of Roman engineers and the nature of Roman military control. It can improve our understanding of Roman construction techniques and the nature and operation of Roman camps.

Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)

The henge belongs to a group of prehistoric ceremonial monuments which have been variously classed as henges, mini henges, henge monuments and hengi-form monuments. Researchers have indicated the difficulties in these over-simplified terms. However, the general use of the term 'henge' remains helpful in distinguishing a monument whose primary purpose was for ceremonial and ritual events as opposed to settlement / domestic / agricultural or similar activity.

Henges are a rare monument type, with around 90 henges known in Scotland. Many are located in fertile agricultural land and survive as buried features, visible as cropmarks on aerial imagery. The known distribution of these monuments is generally in southern, eastern and northern Scotland. This example is one of seven possible and certain examples recorded in eastern Dumfriesshire.

The henge monument, therefore, has the potential to enhance our understanding of ceremony and belief during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. It can tell us about the character, development and use of ritual sites, and the nature of prehistoric society, economy and social hierarchy in this area of Scotland and further afield. It would have been an important component of the wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual. Researchers indicate that the positioning of these monuments is carefully planned to take advantage of natural features, routeways, views and natural resources. This example is positioned in a low-lying location close to the Mein Water, on a natural north-south routeway.

A network of camps, forts and fortlets were constructed in southern Scotland following the Roman invasions of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. This camp forms part of this wider network. It is positioned alongside the Roman road which formed part of a much longer route connecting the fort at Carlisle (Luguvalio) to the Roman frontier on the Forth-Clyde isthmus via Annandale and is part of a complex of Roman military remains in this locality. This includes the Roman fort at Birrens with its annexes and associated remains (SM666; Place Record UID 67099) about 100m to the north, two Roman camps, likely of differing dates, recorded about 350m northeast (SM2746; Place Record UID 67103) and 120m southeast (SM13804; Place Record UID 67155) and a Roman fortlet about 580m southeast (SM2613; Place Record UID 67156).

The concentration of Roman remains around this location highlights the strategic importance this location. Study of this monument in relation to the Roman remains nearby has potential to enhance our knowledge of the use, development, military occupation and strategic importance of this location during the Roman period. Study of the camp in relation to other Roman monuments in southern Scotland has the potential to increase our understanding of the scale of Roman intervention into southern Scotland and its likely impact upon the native population.

The co-location of Roman sites and prehistoric monuments is known elsewhere (for example Fourmerkland (SM5695; Place Record UID 65936), Inveresk (SM3610; Place Record UID 53837 and 53692) and Inchuthil (SM1606; Place Record UID 28592 and 68818)). It is unclear if this was a reflection of the desirable properties of level gravel terraces close to water courses or was a deliberate choice by Roman engineers. The placing of the camp at Broadlea is unusual and suggests that the camp was built with reference to the henge monument. Study of this monument in relation to similar sites elsewhere has the potential to enhance our knowledge of the placement of Roman military sites and the potential strategic importance of prehistoric monuments to the invading Roman armies.

Associative characteristics (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)

There are no known associative characteristics that contribute to this site's national importance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland https://www.trove.scot/ reference number Place Record UID 67155 and 67148 (accessed on 04/04/2025).

Local Authority HER/SMR Reference MDG7485 and MDG7478 (accessed on 04/04/2025).

Jones, R. H. (2011) Roman Camps in Scotland. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Edinburgh.

RCAHMS (1997) Eastern Dumfriesshire: an archaeological landscape. Edinburgh.

ScARF (2012) Hunter, F. and Carruthers, M. (eds) Scotland: the Roman presence Scottish Archaeological Research Framework: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Available online at https://scarf.scot/national/roman-scotland-panel-report/.

trove.scot

https://www.trove.scot/place/67155/
https://www.trove.scot/place/67148/

HER/SMR Reference

MDG7485
MDG7478

Source: Historic Environment Scotland