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Fig 35 Shape and size of the enclosed sites in Lanarkshire

When we look at the shape of enclosed sites in relation to their size (Fig 35), we can further explore the diversity we see in the enclosed sites of the area, which traditional classifications would have masked. Looking at the small sites first it can be seen that the majority are oval in nature. Indeed there are over three times the number of oval sites compared with the other forms of enclosure, suggesting that it

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Oval Circular D-Shaped Rectangular Irregular/promontor y Oval Circular D-Shaped Rectangular Irregular/promontor y Oval Circular D-Shaped Rectangular Rectangular Oval

0-0.25 0.25-0.5 0.5-0.75

Size and Shape of Enclosures in Lanarkshire

109 was perhaps more appropriate for these small enclosures to be defined in this way.

The small circular enclosures are some of the smallest enclosed sites found in the area. It has been suggested by the likes of Alcock (2003, 180-190) that many of these sites may have been roofed, and therefore they do not represent enclosed sites, but were in fact substantial houses. However when we look at the sites in more detail it is clear that they were in fact designed and used as enclosures rather than as houses (though what the purpose of these small sites remains unclear). This is particularly true when we look at one of the smallest circular site in the area, Richie Ferry, which encloses an area of only 0.025Ha/250Sq.m in extent. As discussed in Chapter One, this site is larger than the 180 Sq.m threshold set in this research to distinguish between enclosed sites and un-enclosed houses. With a diameter of 18m and an internal space of 250Sq.m it would have been unlikely, though not impossible if there was an internal ring of posts, that this site would have been roofed, and therefore act like a house. As this site, and others like it have not been excavated, however, it is not possible to be completely sure that they would have acted as enclosed sites, though for the purposes of this research and the creation of the morphological framework they shall be regarded in this way.

Richie Ferry is located on top of a prominent steep sided knoll and is defined by a single bank that is up to 3m in width which survives to a height of 0.4m. There are two possible entrances to the East and North West. If this site appeared in isolation then one could possibly interpret it as a small defended farmstead or homestead.

However as the site is located only 200m away from a much larger enclosed site, also known as Richie Ferry, which encloses an area of around 0.28Ha, this interpretation may not be appropriate and alternative approach as to its social role of this site needs to found. The large site at Richie Ferry has traditionally been classed as a “settlement” site, and is defined by a large stone and earth bank or rampart. This is up to 6m wide, encloses an area measuring 85m by 43m, has four entrances and contains the remains of up to eight roundhouses. How these two sites relate to one another is problematic, and raises questions as to the nature of the social structure of the area, especially as they have not been excavated and

110 their chronology is unknown. Iain Banks (2002, 33-34) has explored a number of theories about these sites, noting that this arrangement of twinned large and small enclosures is common throughout the south west of Scotland. Another example of this arrangement of sites in the Lanarkshire area can be seen at Snap Hill and Cutler Hill, where two larger “forts” are located close to a number of smaller “Enclosures”.

This raises questions to do with the social status of the inhabitants of each of these sites, what they were built and used for, as well as the social structure of the wider area. For instance was one site used as an elite residence, and if so which one? The larger or the smaller of the two? Or was one site used to keep the servants or slaves? (ibid, 33-44). Issues to do with the chronology of these sites makes these interpretations difficult to explore and means that we are restricted to speculation in most instances. These issues will be explored in more detail in later chapters, as this section is concerned with the morphological nature of the enclosed sites of the area. However it is worth noting that the pairing and clustering of enclosures is a common element of the settlement landscape of the Iron Age across Britain. This is particularly true in the Cheviots (Frodsham et al 2007, 250-265) which in many ways reflects the settlement pattern we see in Lanarkshire, but also further south in Wessex (Davis 2008, 31-42) as well as in Dorset (Toase 2008, 21-30).

Fig 36 Shape of the larger enclosed sites of Lanarkshire 2

Shape of Large Enclosed Sites in Lanarkshire

111 The moderately sized sites also tend to be oval in nature (Fig 35) with over twice the number compared with circular sites. However as can be seen in these moderately sized enclosures there is a much larger proportion of sites that are enclosed in different ways, including five that are rectangular (which represent 16%

of this range of enclosed sites), as well as three D-Shaped sites and one promontory type enclosure. As stated above, the number of rectangular sites in the Strathclyde area is much smaller compared with other areas of Scotland, though it appears that the largest concentration of these sites is in Lanarkshire. This analysis suggests that these sites tend to be relatively large, the majority, enclosing areas of over 0.75Ha in extent. The dominance of oval sites only changes when we look at the larger enclosed sites of the area (Fig 36) more of which are circular or rectangular in nature. This is in contrast to the pattern we see in the Ayrshire and Clyde areas, where proportionately more of the larger sites are oval in nature. Therefore it can be argued that in the Lanarkshire area we are again seeing a possible difference in the use of space, where by the larger sites of the area were defined in different ways compared to other parts of the wider region.

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Fig 37 The enclosed sites of Lanarkshire: 1 Richie Ferry; 2 Candybank; 3 Devonshaw Hill; 4 Langloch Knowe; 5 Cairngryfe; 6 Cowcastle; 7 Park Know; 8 St Johns Kirk; 9 Blackhill;10 Southholm; 11 Castlehill Strip; 12 Collins

Burn; 13 Fallburn; 14 Nisbet; 15 Toft Combs (Drawings by author after RCHAMS 1978)

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Fig 38 The enclosed sites of Lanarkshire: 16 Berries Burn; 17 St Johns Kirk; 18 Richie Ferry; 19 Boghall; 20 Cocklaw Hill; 21Chester Hill; 22 Shiell Burn; 23 Bodsberry; 24 Arbory Hill; 25 Woodend Burn. (Drawings by

author after RCHAMS 1978)