Building record MAB33626 - SHANK OF BARNS

Remains of a multi-period settlement.

Remains of a multi-period settlement. On a terrace on the east side of the West Burn and adjacent ridge to the east, three hut-circles, five small buildings, four banks and thirteen small cairns were recorded by Headland Archaeology during a survey of the Balnaboth Estate. The hut-circles are situated on a terrace above the burn to the north of a cluster of small buildings. Two of the hut-circles towards the front of the terrace both measure 11m in diameter overall. The south hut-circle comprises a hollow interior surrounded by a low stony bank spread up to 1.3m in width and there is a possible entrance on the southeast. The north hut-circle is defined by low stony banks and is divided in half by a low stony bank up to 3m in width, which is possibly associated with a sub-rectangular building to the south. What may be a third hut-circle, defined by a circular stony bank measuring 7m in diameter, lies to the north. Three of the buildings lie at the south end of the terrace. They comprise a 3m by 2m depression surrounded by low banks, an oval structure defined by low stony banks and a sub-rectangular building measuring 11m from northwest-southeast by 4m overall. The side walls of this building bow out slightly in the middle whilst the north end of the building is overlain by a 4m by 2.5m structure. There is a stony circular feature, measuring 4.5m in diameter with a slight hollow in the centre, to the south. A fourth building lies to the south of the two hut-circles. It measures 8.5m from northwest-southeast x 5m over stony banks spread up to 0.9m in width. The interior is slightly sunken and there is a possible entrance at the southwest corner. The small cairns (or clearance cairns) are visible in a strip of muir burn on the terrace between the buildings and the hut-circle. They range in size from 3.5m to 7m across and are very low. The ridge to the east of the terrace is mainly under deep heather, though with some areas of muir burn. A rectangular building, an enclosure and two linear features were identified. The building measures 13m from east-west by 5m over 0.9m wide walls, which are faced both internally and externally, standing up to 0.5m in height. There is a single partition dividing the building into two rooms measuring 4m x 3m and 6m x 3m, the latter with an entrance on the south. A later building is built over the west gable. It measures 4.7m from east-west x 4m over 0.7m wide walls standing up to 0.4m in height. The outshot is clearly built over the ruins of the larger building. About 80m north of the building there is an sub-rectangular enclosure which measures 26m from north to south x 12m-16m across. To the east and south of the building and enclosure, there are parallel lines of stones, set 2-3m apart on the south and 1.8m apart on the east. Deep heather obscures the relationship between the two stretches.

DALLAND, M, 1998, BALNABOTH ESTATE,GLEN PROSEN : ARCH. SURVEY, 7-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2434.

Record last edited

Jan 18 2021 4:38PM