Unenclosed round house, 200m north of Barrow Cleugh

Reasons for Designation

Unenclosed hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers. The hut circles take a variety of forms. Some are stone based and are visible as low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area. Others were timber constructions and only the shallow groove in which the timber uprights used in the wall construction stood can now be identified; this may survive as a slight earthwork feature or may be visible on aerial photographs. Some can only be identified by the artificial earthwork platforms created as level stances for the houses. The number of houses in a settlement varies between one and twelve. In areas where they were constructed on hillslopes the platforms on which the houses stood are commonly arrayed in tiers along the contour of the slope. Several settlements have been shown to be associated with organised field plots, the fields being defined by low stony banks or indicated by groups of clearance cairns. Many unenclosed settlements have been shown to date to the Bronze Age but it is also clear that they were still being constructed and used in the Early Iron Age. They provide an important contrast to the various types of enclosed and defended settlements which were also being constructed and used around the same time. Their longevity of use and their relationship with other monument types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities.

The round house north of Barrow Cleugh is very well preserved and is a good example of this type of early prehistoric house.

Details

The monument includes the remains of a timber round house of prehistoric date, situated in a commanding position on the edge of steep slopes above the Barrow Burn. The house is visible as a narrow ditch 90cm wide and 20cm deep forming a circular enclosure 11m in diameter. This ditch provided the setting for the timber walls of the house.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

25033

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Gates, A, Settlement in North Britain 1000BC - AD 1000 in Unenclosed Settlements in Northumberland, (1983), 103-130

End of official list entry

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