Reaveley Hill enclosed settlement (Cheviotside)
NU 01021813 Camp. (1)
Reaveley Hill. Ring earthwork. Approximately 1/4 acre in area. (2)
Earthwork ploughed down. Type B2 (39): 'Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection'. (3)
Remains of an oval-shaped earthwork are situated, at approximately 800 feet above sea-level, upon the south-west pasture slopes of a knoll, which rises from a general slope to the east. The site is bounded by short steep slopes on the south and east sides, and the north side reaches the top of the knoll. The earthwork overlooks the valley of the River Breamish to the south-east and that of the Roddam Burn to the north-east. There is low ground to the south-west and rising ground to the north-west, beyond a local depression, and the site is generally a commanding one. The nearest present fresh water supply is a stream a little to the south. The earthwork consisted of a single rampart of earth and stones which is reduced to a scarp above
the steep slopes. The entrance is in the north-west side. Within, the interior is subdivided by a bank enclosing the south-west quadrant. There are traces of other banks, but no traces of interior occupation.
Outside the rampart on the west side are two rectangular enclosures and a hut circle, also traces of a bank running nearly parallel with the rampart round the north-west side, to an area of broken ground, which may indicate the sites of further dwellings or enclosures. Adjacent to the larger enclosure are remains of what may be a second hut circle.
The earthwork was not defensive, but was probably a stock enclosure, with external occupation. (4)
The enclosure is much denuded, but it has the basic oval form and rubble construction of the local type of native homestead, the vague external habitation remains being possibly later. Resurveyed at 1/2500. (5)
The remains of an oval shaped enclosure situated at about 800 feet above sea-level upon the south-west pasture slopes of a natural knoll and bounded by short, steep, slopes on the south and higher ground to the north west. The enclosure is formed by a bank of earth and stones, approximately 3m wide with a maximum height of 0.5m, which is reduced to a scarp on the east side above the steeper slopes. An entrance 3m wide on the north west side, the north end of which has been revetted with smaller stones, is probably original. The form and construction of this enclosure bank is similar to other local native homestead sites in this area.
The enclosure has been principally sub-divided by a bank enclosing the south west quadrant, but there are traces of banks which although very amorphous, especially in the south-east, could represent remains of further sub-divisions, but part of one of these banks overlies the
main enclosing bank on the east side suggesting these sub-divisions are of a later date. Within the north of the enclosure are the remains of a possible stone hut measuring 2.8m by 2.6m with a possible entrance in the south west.
Outside the west of the enclosure and attached to it are two small rectangular enclosures and a hut circle, 4.5m in diameter, between the centres of a turf covered stony bank, spread to 1.8m and 0.3m high, which partially cuts into the main enclosure bank. The entrance to this hut is probably marked by a larger earthfast stone in the south. There are traces of further banks and enclosures, apparently linked to an outer bank which is concentric to the enclosure around the west and north sides, but which have been badly mutilated by stone robbing and
ploughing. A second external hut circle on the south side of the entrance mentioned by Authority 4a seems unlikely. This external occupation appears to have been quite extensive and of a later date than the enclosure it surrounds.
To the west of the homestead are a number of small stony lynchets and clearance heaps which in places have been overlain by rig and furrow and which are possibly contemporary with occupation of the site.
The external remains and internal divisions are possibly indicative of expansion rather an desertion and re-occupation, the whole being representative of Romano-British native homesteads in this area. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
A homestead of Roman date, centred at NU 0102 1812, is visible as an earthwork on air photographs. The perimeter consists of a sub-oval enclosure bank with a partially visible concentric outer enclosure bank to the west and north. Both these earthwork banks measure approximately 1.5m wide. The inner enclosure measures 58m north/south by 46m transversely, and has an internal area of approximately 0.23ha. The remaining features are as described by
authority 6. (7)(8a)
General asociation with HER 30313. (8)
Reaveley Hill. Ring earthwork. Approximately 1/4 acre in area. (2)
Earthwork ploughed down. Type B2 (39): 'Forts on high ground less dependent on natural slopes for protection'. (3)
Remains of an oval-shaped earthwork are situated, at approximately 800 feet above sea-level, upon the south-west pasture slopes of a knoll, which rises from a general slope to the east. The site is bounded by short steep slopes on the south and east sides, and the north side reaches the top of the knoll. The earthwork overlooks the valley of the River Breamish to the south-east and that of the Roddam Burn to the north-east. There is low ground to the south-west and rising ground to the north-west, beyond a local depression, and the site is generally a commanding one. The nearest present fresh water supply is a stream a little to the south. The earthwork consisted of a single rampart of earth and stones which is reduced to a scarp above
the steep slopes. The entrance is in the north-west side. Within, the interior is subdivided by a bank enclosing the south-west quadrant. There are traces of other banks, but no traces of interior occupation.
Outside the rampart on the west side are two rectangular enclosures and a hut circle, also traces of a bank running nearly parallel with the rampart round the north-west side, to an area of broken ground, which may indicate the sites of further dwellings or enclosures. Adjacent to the larger enclosure are remains of what may be a second hut circle.
The earthwork was not defensive, but was probably a stock enclosure, with external occupation. (4)
The enclosure is much denuded, but it has the basic oval form and rubble construction of the local type of native homestead, the vague external habitation remains being possibly later. Resurveyed at 1/2500. (5)
The remains of an oval shaped enclosure situated at about 800 feet above sea-level upon the south-west pasture slopes of a natural knoll and bounded by short, steep, slopes on the south and higher ground to the north west. The enclosure is formed by a bank of earth and stones, approximately 3m wide with a maximum height of 0.5m, which is reduced to a scarp on the east side above the steeper slopes. An entrance 3m wide on the north west side, the north end of which has been revetted with smaller stones, is probably original. The form and construction of this enclosure bank is similar to other local native homestead sites in this area.
The enclosure has been principally sub-divided by a bank enclosing the south west quadrant, but there are traces of banks which although very amorphous, especially in the south-east, could represent remains of further sub-divisions, but part of one of these banks overlies the
main enclosing bank on the east side suggesting these sub-divisions are of a later date. Within the north of the enclosure are the remains of a possible stone hut measuring 2.8m by 2.6m with a possible entrance in the south west.
Outside the west of the enclosure and attached to it are two small rectangular enclosures and a hut circle, 4.5m in diameter, between the centres of a turf covered stony bank, spread to 1.8m and 0.3m high, which partially cuts into the main enclosure bank. The entrance to this hut is probably marked by a larger earthfast stone in the south. There are traces of further banks and enclosures, apparently linked to an outer bank which is concentric to the enclosure around the west and north sides, but which have been badly mutilated by stone robbing and
ploughing. A second external hut circle on the south side of the entrance mentioned by Authority 4a seems unlikely. This external occupation appears to have been quite extensive and of a later date than the enclosure it surrounds.
To the west of the homestead are a number of small stony lynchets and clearance heaps which in places have been overlain by rig and furrow and which are possibly contemporary with occupation of the site.
The external remains and internal divisions are possibly indicative of expansion rather an desertion and re-occupation, the whole being representative of Romano-British native homesteads in this area. Surveyed at 1:2500. (6)
A homestead of Roman date, centred at NU 0102 1812, is visible as an earthwork on air photographs. The perimeter consists of a sub-oval enclosure bank with a partially visible concentric outer enclosure bank to the west and north. Both these earthwork banks measure approximately 1.5m wide. The inner enclosure measures 58m north/south by 46m transversely, and has an internal area of approximately 0.23ha. The remaining features are as described by
authority 6. (7)(8a)
General asociation with HER 30313. (8)
N3055
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; A S Phillips
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; S Ainsworth
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; D Smith
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1976; S Ainsworth
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION, English Heritage: Till Tweed NMP 2003; English Heritage
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