Broomrigg F: two hut circles in Broomrigg Plantation, 900m south east of Street House

Reasons for Designation

Stone hut circles and hut circle settlements were the dwelling places of prehistoric farmers. Most date from the Bronze Age (c.2000-700 BC). The stone- based round-houses consist of low walls or banks enclosing a circular floor area; the remains of the turf, thatch or heather roofs are not preserved. The huts may occur singly or in small or large groups and may lie in the open or be enclosed by a bank of earth or stone. Frequently traces of their associated field systems may be found immediately around them. These may be indicated by areas of clearance cairns and/or the remains of field walls and other enclosures. The longevity of use of hut circle settlements and their relationship with other monument types provides important information on the diversity of social organisation and farming practices amongst prehistoric communities. They are particularly representative of their period and a substantial proportion of surviving examples are considered worthy of protection.

Despite a combination of limited excavation and forestry planting, the two hut circles known as Broomrigg F survive reasonably well. They are one of a number of prehistoric monument types within Broomrigg Plantation including small and large stone circles, burial cairns, a stone alignment and a standing stone, and thus indicate the importance of this area in prehistoric times and the diversity of monument types to be found here. They will contribute to any further study of the prehistoric exploitation of this area.

Details

The monument includes two adjacent hut circles known as Broomrigg F. They are located in Broomrigg Plantation and include an irregularly-shaped spread of earthfast stones which partly protrude through the vegetation cover. Limited excavation of the site by Hodgson in 1950 found the hut circles to consist of two rings of stones about 0.3m high and 3.7m in diameter. The ground within each circle was slightly harder than that outside and the excavator interpreted this as an indication that the internal floors were the product of treading by the occupants rather than being a typically made or true floor. Finds from these floors included two flint flakes considered to be the waste from flint tool manufacture and a quantity of iron oxide showing unmistakable signs of having been worked by rubbing. A small quantity of charcoal was also found.

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:

27740

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hodgson, K, Trans Cumb and West Antiq and Arch Soc. New Ser. in Further Excavations at Broomrigg, Ainstable, Vol. LII, (1952), 1-3

Other
Crow,J., AM107, (1985)
Robertson-Mackay, R, AM7, (1958)
Charlesworth, D, (1959)
FMW Report, Lee,J., Stone Circles in Broomrigg Plantation, (1995)

End of official list entry

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