dumfries-1920/04-080

Transcription

APPLEGARTH.] INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS IN DUMFRIESSHIRE. [APPLEGARTH.

fort (fig. 10) at an elevation of nearly 400 feet
above sea-level and at the edge of a steep bank
overhanging the Dalmakethar Burn, which flows
by on the north some 50 feet below. East of the
fort the ground rise by an easy gradient to the
skyline some 300 or 400 yards distant; to the
south it falls away, trending westward; while
on the west it has a rather steep declivity for
some 50 feet to a hollow in the cultivated
land below. The interior area of the fort is
oval, with its longest axis north-north-east
and south-south west, measures 126 feet by 98

[Diagram inserted]
FIG.10. - Fort, Dalmakethar Burn (No 20).

feet, and is entirely surrounded by a rampart of
earth and stone. From the edge of the ravine
of the burn on the north-east a double trench
passes along the east side and the south end,
with an intervening rampart broadest and
deepest on the south, which diverges from the
central enceinte as it passes westward on to the
face of the steep slope. Thence it is said to
have been continued obliquely to the edge of
the ravine. The inner trench on the east has
a breadth of 30 feet, and a depth of 4 feet and
5 feet respectively below the crests of scarp
and counterscarp; while on the south it
measures 45 feet in breadth, 9 feet in depth

below the scarp, and 6 feet below the counter-
scarp. The outer trench is 23 feet wide on the
east and of slight depth, while on the south
it has a breadth of 34 feet and depth of 6 feet.
The entrances have been from the north-
north-east and south-south-east and are 4 to
5 feet wide. The former has been approached
over a narrow space flanked by the rampart
and the edge of the ravine; the latter directly
through the defences. At both entrances the
inner rampart broadens as it approaches the
opening from either side. There appears to
be a spring in the outer trench at its south-
west termination.
xxxiv. -- N.W. -- 14 August 1912.

21. Fort, Dalmakethar. - This fort crosses
the neck of a low promontory which projects
on the 400-feet contour line on the west
of Longerhallis Hill, about 1/2 mile south-
south-east of Dalmakethar. On the north it
overlooks the deep ravine of a burn, and on
the south and west it is protected by steep
natural slopes. It is now covered by a
young plantation, and the only defences
traceable are an outer trench 28 feet wide and
5 feet and 3 feet deep below the crests of scarp
and counterscarp respectively, running from
the edge of the ravine across the neck, with
a convex outline to the east; a rampart some
5 feet in height; a slighter mound 40 feet in
rear of it; and, separated by a shallow trench
17 feet in width, another low mound. The two
inner mounds are very slight and noticeable
only towards the edge of the ravine.
xxxiv. -- S.W. -- 14 August 1912.

ENCLOSURES.
22. Enclosure, Howthat Burn. - This en-
closure lies on the lowest slope of the brae, just
where it merges into the level ground on the
east side of the glen of the Howthat Burn,
about 1/3 mile east-north-east of Newbigging.
It is elliptical in shape, measuring in diameter
interiorly 140 feet by 110 feet, and is surrounded
by a mound of earth and stone. There are
two entrances 26 feet apart, each about 9 feet
wide, which open on the lowest level from the
direction of the burn. The interior has been
hollowed out to a depth of from 3 to 4 feet
on the upper side below the level of the sur-
rounding ground. At the north end of the

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