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MHG1121 - Possible Homestead or Palisaded Enclosure - Rinsary

Summary

Site of possible homestead or palisaded enclosure.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

Situated on knoll in arable land, about 500m WNW of Rinsary, are remains of a double-ditched enclosure. A shallow gully flanks it on NW, and a small stream on SE.
A causeway, 5.2m broad, crosses the ditches on E side. These ditches do not appear to be palisade trenches, being 2 to 3m wide by 0.2m deep, and enclose a central area measuring some 24m E-W by 18.5m transversely. Within enclosure and on highest part of the knoll, are traces of a ring-groove hut circle, 7m diameter, the trench being 0.4m wide by 0.1m deep. Some 5m beyond the main ditches, on S and E, are traces of a palisade trench 0.4m wide by 0.1m deep, with an appropriate break at causewayed entrance, and widening into an evident ditch towards gully on W.
Visited by OS (J L D) 15 June 1960;
Visible on RAF air photographs CPE/Scot/UK 179: 1308-9.

Earthwork (NR) OS 6" map, (1964)

Generally as described by previous OS field surveyor, except that only a small portion of ring-ditch hut on its SE quadrant is now evident; and no trace can now be seen of the palisade trench between the short stretch of ditch close by the gully and another similar ditch beside the entrance.
Surveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (R L) 7 March 1968.

Homestead (NR) OS 25" map, (1969)

The site was Scheduled in 1974.

Situated on summit of a glacial knoll in what is essentially a non-defensive position are remains of a double-ditched enclosure. It is generally as described by previous OS field surveyor (R L), except that there is some doubt as to authenticity of the ring-groove hut. The groove does not form a regular curving circle, and it encloses a mounded area 0.2m high. There is no trace of banks or stone-built ramparts associated with the ditches, and it may therefore have been a palisaded enclosure; as such it would be unique in Caithness. It is almost certainly some form of homestead.
Visited by OS (N K B) 24 March 1983.

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 1126 2386 (70m by 70m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND12SW
Civil Parish	LATHERON
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

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External Links (2)