Description

The monument comprises the remains of a series of Roman temporary camps and prehistoric settlement remains represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument occupies a flat gravel terrace on the E of the River Esk. Cropmarks indicate the presence of two overlapping Roman Camps of likely Antonine date. Three circular enclosures are also visible on the photographs and these may be expected to relate to prehistoric settlement. Limited excavations in advance of road construction revealed that the monument contains a high density of features from the prehistoric period that are not visible as cropmarks, including several roundhouses, enclosures, burial features and field boundaries. The partially excavated features also included a series of linear cropmarks that may relate to a Neolithic ritual monument.

The area lies close to the Roman fort and civilian settlement at Inveresk and to the prehistoric settlement and field system complex across the Esk to the W.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which associated settlement and other remains may be expected to survive. It is divided into three irregular parts seperated by modern road corridors. The S part has maximum dimensions of 120m ENE-WSW by 60m, the W part 450m NW-SE by 270m and the E part 570m WNW- ESE by 270m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to provide evidence for the development of settlement in southern Scotland from the Neolithic to the Roman period. Its importance is greatly enhanced by its close proximity to the Roman fort and civilian settlement at Inveresk and to prehistoric settlement and agricultural complexes in the vicinity.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as NT37SW 183.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland