208 PORT AND HUT-CIRCLES ON UPPER WHITADDER 



The group of hut-cii-cles lies on the opposite side of the 

 Whitadder, some 400 yards North of the fort. The position 

 is defended by a steep bank descending fully 50 feet to the 

 Whitadder valley on the South and to Snailseleuch on the 

 West, but is not strengthened by any ramparts — an unusual 

 omission in the South of Scotland. 



A low mound runs from Snailscleucjh in a South- West 

 direction, and turning South is accompanied by a parallel 

 mound at a distance of some 40 yards until both are obliterated 

 some distance before reaching the steep bank to the South. 

 The area thus enclosed measures fully 400 yards by 300 yards. 

 The mounds, which are of earth and stones, and have no 

 accompanying trench, run in the curious zig-xag course found 

 in early work of this description. They were apparently 

 intended to enclose rather than to defend. 



The group consists of three large enclosures (Nos 1, 3, and 

 12), and at least nineteen small ones. More might be found 

 beneath the strong growth of heather, and here and there 

 lie small irregular heaps of stones, which may cover found- 

 ations. A detailed description is as follows : — 



No. 1. — A large oval enclosure, with the interior much hollowed. 

 The original form is much obscured by heaps of stones, 

 but the exterior circumference can be clearly traced for 

 some distance along the North side, and also to the West 

 and South- West, b}^ stones in situ. The diameter from 

 outside to outside has probably been about 61 feet from 

 North-East to South- West, and 66 feet from East to West. 

 The entrance has probably been from the East. This is an 

 interesting enclosure; and would, along with No. 13, be 

 well worth clearing out. 



No. 2. — In the interior of No. 1, towards the North- West, are 

 traceable the North and East sides of the interior of a 

 small circle. From its interior to the exterior of the 

 enclosing circle is a distance of about 5 feet. 



No. 3. — To the North- West of No. 1 is another large irregularly 

 shaped enclosure with a mound of earth and stones. In 



