Description

The monument comprises two hut circles and associated banks of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding features.

The monument lies between 230-35m above sea level on a natural terrace above a moderate to steep slope. The area to the N and NW has recently been afforested and a new fence has been put in to separate the new forest from the best-preserved of the two hut circles. The other survives within a clearing (8m by 10m) within the forested area.

The best preserved hut circle lies approximately 35m SE of the second hut circle. It has an internal measurement of 8m in diameter within a grass-grown stony bank, up to 1.8m in thickness and 0.3m in height. Two stony banks, measuring 2m in thickness, run at a tangent from the NE and SE walls of this hut circle and form a corner of a partially enclosed area. The north-eastern bank runs towards the second hut circle. It measures 6.8m in diameter internally within a grass grown bank 1.8m in thickness and 0.2m in height. Both have a possible entrance to the S. Hut circles are characteristic of Bronze and Iron Age settlement sites and represent the remains of timber-roofed roundhouses.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is L-shaped and is orientated WSW-ENE, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Any above-ground elements of the fence are excluded from the schedule.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

Intrinsic characteristics: the monument has great potential to contribute to the understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy in the Bronze Age. In particular, the site has the potential to add to our knowledge of settlement size and structure. This monument is a peripheral upland site on the boundary with a large area of agricultural land. The preservation of the monument is therefore very good in comparison with others sites in the region that have either been altered by forestry or agriculture. The preservation of associated field banks, and possibly other archaeological features, has great potential to help us to understand settlement divisions and to reveal further information about local variations in domestic architecture and building use.

Contextual characteristics: As a well-preserved hut circle in a region where few upstanding hut circles have been identified, this monument has the potential to reveal much about the attitudes of later prehistoric communities in NE Scotland to house-building and how they lived. The more rare location of this type of monument, on the edge of the uplands, could add to our understanding and analysis of settlement patterns and land-use in the Bronze Age throughout the region and Scotland.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of marginal upland prehistoric settlement and economy, particularly Bronze Age hut-circle settlements. Its importance is increased by the retention of additional characteristics, such as the field banks, and its preservation in an area where few such settlements have survived. The destruction of this monument would diminish our ability to understand this type of site.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NJ63SW34 and by Aberdeenshire Council SMR as NJ63SW0025.

Aerial photographs:

AAS, 1988, NJ63SW34, Jericho, D82969/PO.

AAS, 1988, NJ63SW34, Jericho, D82970/PO.

AAS, 1988, NJ63SW34, Jericho, B92102/PO.

AAS, 1988, NJ63SW0025, Jericho, AAS/88/12/S24/3.

References:

Shepherd I 1989, 'Jericho (Culsalmond parish), hut circle', DISCOVERY EXCAV SCOT, 20.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland