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Stone Circle, Burgh Hill, Hawick. |
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Description
Burgh Hill Stone Circle is situated on a natural shelf near the
summit of Burgh Hill. The circle is egg-shaped on plan, measures
16.50m x 13.40m and comprises 25 stones, 13 of which are erect
with the remainder now recumbent. All the stones are
comparatively small in size, ranging from barely above ground
level to around 0.80m high and most are aligned with a broad
face along the perimeter of the circle. One of the recumbent
stones is larger, measuring 1.50m long x 0.64m wide. It is
recorded that the circle "has been well explored, but
yielded nothing of a sepulchral nature". The circle is in a
poor state of repair, mostly due to livestock churning up the
boggy ground.
Directions
From Hawick, take a minor road south from the mini roundabout at
the end of the High Street, leading to Priesthaugh. Burgh Hill is
about 1 mile before Priesthaugh.
Parking
On roadside grass verge adjacent to farm track leading up Burgh
Hill.
Fieldnotes
Burgh Hill is on of the few stone settings actually described in
an detail. Like Borrowstone Rig, this setting is believed to
have been constructed along strict geometric principles based on
the megalithic yard (my) of 0.829m. It is based on an initial
8my circle and on two further circles linked to Pythagorean
triangles placed back to back at the centre of the diameter of
the original circle! And who said these people were from the
Stone Age? Why these measurements were used is unknown and the
purpose of the stone setting also remains a mystery.
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