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MHG64950 - Field system - Hill Cottage

Summary

A prehistoric field system to the north of Hill Cottage.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A prehistoric field system to the north of Hill Cottage.

There are several tumuli which lie scattered on a low heathy ridge situated near the "silver rock', a short distance from its southern base; they are composed of stones and earth, and are believed to cover the graves of some of the Picts. <1> NOTE: these form the eastern extent of the current record [IS-L 27/11/2025]

Nine 'tumuli' are shown on the OS 1st Edition map to the south of 'Silver Rock'.

(NH 792 991) Cairns (NR), (NH 794 992) Cairns (NR)
OS 6" map, (1960)

Centred at NH 789 990, on a S-facing hillside, is a settlement of 8 stone-walled huts (A-H), an enclosure (Z) and an associated field system.

The field system, best defined in the vicinity of hut circle 'A' consists of stone clearance heaps, (noted by the RCAHMS (1911) as half a dozen small mounds and by the ONB (1870) as tumuli and lynchets forming fields varying in size from about 45m by 30m to about 20m by 10m. It is partially overlaid by recent cultivation.
Name Book 1870; RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909; Visited by OS (R L) 20 November 1969.
Visited by OS (J M) 6 May 1975.

NOTE: the description of the OS from their visit in 1975 relates to the western end of the extent of the current record [IS-L 27/11/2025].

The cairns at the eastern extent of the area were visted an noted by C Dagg during a walkover survey undertaken in 2017 in advance of a proposed woodland creation scheme. Site 8: Field system, nine mounds: most westerly is NH 79406 99276, most easterly NH 79483 99234 and most southerly NH79475 99192. Nine field clearance mounds of probably prehistoric date cover a roughly triangular area which is crossed by the boundary of the proposed planting area. These are recorded on the 1873 1st edition
OS map as ‘tumuli’. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 7915 9914 (839m by 464m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH79NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	GOLSPIE

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