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MHG12478 - Hut circle, SE of Rosal

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Type and Period (2)

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GR corrected to above from modern OS mappng, hut circles now recorded separately - HAW 3/2004

NC64SE 28 690 413.
(NC 6910 4117) Enclosure (NC 6885 4166) Earth-house (NR)
OS 6"map, (1961)

Iron Age occupation is indicated by the existence of hut- circles, a souterrain and field clearance heaps in and around the township of Rosal (NC64SE 12). The hut circles include the published 'Enclosure' (A), the unnamed circle at NC 6910 4137 ('B') and four others discovered during Fairhurst's survey in 1962 (C-F). They are 30 to 40ft in diameter and consist of lowbanks of earth and boulders. 'A' has an entrance in the SE. The rectangular structure published at NC 6885 4176 ('G') was excavated by Fairhurst and proved to be a circular hut platform, 41ft in diameter cut into the slope on the SE and revetted on the NW by blocks forming a wall 4ft thick and 2ft 6ins high. No definite hut was associated with the souterrain but to the north there were intermittent traces of a very low annular bank, some 30ft in diameter, which excavation showed to be composed of small stones inadequate for the foundation of a hut, although it is possible that any large stones had been removed. The souterrain itself was excavated by Corcoran 1962 and proved to be unpaved and 42ft long with three lintels still in position. The entrance was in SE and 7ft 6ins from it were what appeared to be door-checks. Another pecularity was the outward batter of the passage walls towards the top.
J X W P Corcoran 1969; H Fairhurst 1969; Visited by OS (JLD) 7 May 1960.

The Iron age occupation at Rosal is generally as described above. All hut circles, now lying in unthinned forestry approximately fifteen years old, have been disfigured by ploughing and planting. Hut 'E' given at NC 6908 4123 was not located. The site of the hut platform ('G') excavated by Fairhurst is as described by him. Unusually the curving wall on the lower NW side though well preserved does not exhibit an entrance as could be expected. Possibly this is a later wall, contemporary with the township, and overlying the hut platform. The souterrain now largely filled with earth displays the three lintel stones remaining in situ. The clearance heaps form no cohesive pattern mixed as they are among the later cultivation of Rosal township.
Surveyed at 1:10 000. Visited by OS (J B) 8 July 1978.

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 6906 4127 (100m by 100m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC64SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	FARR

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