Building record MAB33642 - PITCARITY

Remains of a township, comprising eighteen buildings and associated enclosures were recorded by Headland Archaeology during a survey of the Balnaboth Estate.

Remains of a township, comprising eighteen buildings and associated enclosures were recorded by Headland Archaeology during a survey of the Balnaboth Estate. There is one three-roomed building, four more have two rooms and the remaining thirteen are single-roomed structures. Almost all the buildings are aligned along the contour from northwest- southeast. The three roomed building lies at the extreme north-west end of the settlement. It measures 15m from north-south x 3.5m and is partly defined by turf-covered stone walls spread up to 0.7m in width and standing up to 0.5m in height. Within, the rooms measure 3.5m, 5m and 4m in length x 1.7m respectively. The two-roomed buildings range in size from 8.5m x 3.5m to 14.5m x 3.5m over 0.6m to 0.7m wide walls standing up to 0.7m in height. One of these structures abuts the north-west corner of a subrectangular enclosure whilst at the base of the settlement, another has entrances into both rooms from the south-west. This lies to the north-west of a single roomed building abutting two enclosures. Attached to the south-west side of a large enclosure and the north-west side of a small enclosure around a natural hollow, this building measures 8m from northwest-southeast x 3.8m over partly turf-covered walls standing up to 0.5m in height. In the east end of the larger enclosure, there is a subrectangular hollow, measuring 4m from east-west x 1.5m, which may be a further building. Immediately north of the enclosure there is a small building measuring 6.5m x 3m over stony banks up to 0.5m high. Up to four other single-roomed buildings may be attached to enclosures or yards. Of these enclosures, that attached to one is annotated 'Sheepfold' on the 1st edition of the OS map (1865). The remaining buildings are scattered across the hillside. They range in size from 6m x 3.2m to 10.5m x 4m and, where visible, the entrances lie on the south-west. Of these structures nine buildings and enclosures are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map. Within the enclosed fields on the lower, southwest-facing slope of the Hill of Spott, an area of rig was recorded over an area measuring 220m from northeast to southwest by 400m. The rigs are well-preserved ranging in size from 7m to 12m across, and standing up to 0.4m in height.

DALLAND, M, 1998, BALNABOTH ESTATE,GLEN PROSEN : ARCH. SURVEY, 30-33 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2434.

Record last edited

Jul 20 2021 1:20PM