NT 952280: An Early Bronze Age linear unenclosed settlement was located during field walking on Black Law in 1979, by C Burgess and R Miket. The settlement, circa 0.5km in length, consisted of a prominent cairnfield, well defined cultivation terraces, embanked fields and a dozen or more house sites scattered singly and in groups just below 1000ft contour. The largest ring bank (house site - 'A') c.10m across, was totally excavated. It was found to be the remains of a large stone house superimposed on an earlier ring groove timber house. Early Bronze Age sherds, some corn decorated, were recovered and flint finds included part of a plano-convex knife. See plans. (1)

NT 952280. Houseledge West unenclosed settlement. (2)

Trial excavations on Black Law linear unenclosed settlement July - August 1979. Field survey suggested three main phases of agricultural activity - (i) cairnfield clearance, (ii) lyncheted terraces, and (iii) large irregular fields defined by stone banks. Excavated houses relate to latest phase. (3)

Excavations in 1980 concentrated on the linear unenclosed settlement sampled in 1979 and extending westwards. Settlement comprises round stone-founded buildings, stances for timber buildings, a field system and clearance cairnfield, extending altogether over 0.5km. No evidence of early timber houses found. Lynchet bank and clearance heap structure examined. House excavated in 1979 was found to overlie a post hole structure; buildings presumed later than cultivation terrace and relating to phase (iii) rectangular fields. A suspected stone-founded building c.90m north was found to be a natural feature. The est-west field banks extend downslope but do not stop as is apparent on the ground - excavation showed they continue in a reduced form, masked by overburden. (4)

Third season in 1981. Soil survey of Houseledge West by Dr R Shiel of Newcastle University Soil Science Department. Find of comb-decorated pottery suggests earlier date than previously held Early Bronze Age. (5)

Fourth season in 1982. Finds plentiful in farmyard area, but absence of structural features. Cultivation terraces overlaid by rectangular field. Spindle whorl found in embanked horseshoe-shaped area within rectangular field. (6)

Scheduled. (7)

Aerial photos in the NMRC collection show the site under excavation (8a-b), and at other times. (8c-e)

The site has been mapped from the air as part of the Milfield Geoarchaeoloy Project. (See archive object MD000292)

General association with HER 1532. (8)