Scheduled Monument

Goshen Hill, palisaded settlementSM10742

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
04/02/2003
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: palisaded settlement
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Jedburgh
NGR
NT 72112 10495
Coordinates
372112, 610495

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a palisaded enclosure, a defended farmstead dating from the early first millennium BC, visible as a series of upstanding earthworks.

The monument lies at around 395m OD on a west-facing spur just below the summit of Goshen Hill. The enclosure is roughly oval in shape and measures approximately 60m ENE-WSW by 25m transversely. Unusually, it is encircled by two palisade trenches, some 4m apart and both about 0.5m wide.

These trenches would have held the massive timber uprights of the palisades that defended and defined the enclosure, but it is not clear from the remains on the ground whether both palisades would have been in place at the same time, or whether one enclosure was replaced by another at some time during the life of the farmstead. The possible traces of up to four circular buildings have been recorded within the enclosure.

The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is irregular on plan and has maximum dimensions of 100m from ENE to WSW by 60m transversely, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric settlement, economy, land use and social organisation. The relationship between this monument and several others in the vicinity which are likely to be of similar date and function is of particular interest.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 71 SW 30.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

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Printed: 21/07/2025 07:28