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MHG65631 - Platforms - Armadale Burn

Summary

A possible platform settlement consisting of three scooped platforms, 6m in diameter, with an associated field system.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

(NC 7964 6409) Hut Circle (NR)
OS 6" map, (1963)

A small, mutilated hut circle found during field investigation.
Visited by OS (W D J) 25 April 1960.

This hut circle, situated against the base of a low rocky ridge, is 6.5m in diameter within a turf-covered stone wall, 0.5m maximum height and 1.3m estimated breadth. Occasional slabs on edge indicating both inner and outer faces are visible. The entrance of simple form in the E arc, is flanked by three portal stones, one displaced, indicating a width of 0.7m. Two small clearance heaps piled upon living rock close by the hut are the only signs of associated cultivation.
Revised at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (N K B) 15 July 1977.

Other hut circles, enclosures, walls and field clearance heaps occur in the vicinity of this hut circle.
'B' NC 7974 6401. A grass-covered hut circle, 13m in diameter, with walls 2m thick. Two upright stones occur at the possible entrance, and stones are also visible in the bank.
'C' NC 7979 6393. A grass-covered hut circle, 10m by 9m, with stones visible in the bank and a doubtful entrance in the S.
'D' NC 7960 6396. A possible platform settlement consisting of three scooped platforms, 6m in diameter, with an associated field system. Enclosures occur at :-
NC 7963 6406. Rectangular, very indistinct, 2.5m N-S by 17m across.
NC 7978 6373. Rectangular, 14m NW-SE by 5m across, with the NW side missing.
NC 7980 6381. Sub-circular 20m by 16m, with a stony bank 0.25m high. Walls occur at :-
NC 7982 6408. 70m long N-S by 1m thick.
NC 7992 6383. 40m long N-S, Im thick and one course high.
NC 7963 6395. 45m long NE-SW, 1m thick, in poor condition.
NC 7975 6396. 70m long NE-SW and 1m thick.
NC 7978 6390. 70m long, 1m thick and built of large single blocks.
NC 7981 6372. 1m long NW-SE, 1m thick, of large stones, grass-covered. NC 7975 6380. 40m long NE-SW, 1m thick, with no stone visible but a definite turf bank following an outcrop of rock.
As well as the field system associated with 'D', clearance heaps extend from NC 7965 6416 to NC 7972 6416, with an outlier at NC 7986 6415.
R J Mercer 1981.

Apart from the hut circle published by OS, there are two further examples (B and C noted by Mercer at NC 7976 6402 and NC 7982 6393 respectively). The area is one of rocky ridges and grassy valleys.
Hut 'B' measures 7.7m in diameter within a turf-covered wall surviving to a height of 0.3m. Intermittent wall facing stones are exposed indicating a thickness fo 2.2m. There is a single portal stone at the entrance in the SE arc. Some 3.0m outside the entrance are two upright slabs, 0.9m and 0.7m high and 0.8m apart; these may be portal stones of a forecourt to the hut circle which has largely disappeared.
Hut C is as described and planned by Mercer. 'D', is 'possibly a platform settlement' cannot be located; the only 'platforms' identified are natural terraces.
There are a number of stone clearance heaps fringing cleared ground in the vicinity of the hut circles which appear to be contemporary, but subsequent land use of the early modern period has obscured the original pattern of field plots. The enclosures, walls and some of the clearance heaps described by Mercer date from this recent period but not all the features noted can be identified individually.
Huts B and C surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (N K B) 12 August 1981.

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <1>

Sources/Archives (10)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 7960 6398 (46m by 45m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC76SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	FARR

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