White Knowe, Eldbotle
Cist(S) (Prehistoric)
Site Name White Knowe, Eldbotle
Classification Cist(S) (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Archerfield Estate
Canmore ID 56649
Site Number NT58NW 21
NGR NT 5057 8576
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/56649
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Dirleton
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT58NW 21 5057 8576.
(NT 5057 8576) Cists found AD 1891 (NAT)
OS 6" map (1971)
No further information found either on the ground or during recording. The relevant Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB] was destroyed by enemy action during the 1939-45 war.
Visited by OS (SFS) 8 July 1975
This site was re-examined in the light of recent observations that these cists may have been secondary deposits within an earlier cairn, some 35 metres in diameter. Ground inspection, however, suggests that the mounding effect is better explained as a natural dune, perhaps having been subjected to deliberate scarping on one side. A possible explanation for this occurrence may be found on the first edition of the OS map, where the site is marked as the location of a flag staff. Sponsor: Pavilion Leisure PLC.
A F Leslie 1991c.
NT 5000 5810 (centre) A survey and extensive archaeological evaluation were undertaken on the Archerfield Estate, Direlton. Work had been previously undertaken on the site (DES 1991, 49-50) and a number of sites were noted in the NMRS. Documentary sources suggested a multi-period landscape with sites dating from the Bronze Age to the 1940s. Sixteen potential sites were identified during the desk-based assessment and walkover survey and these were investigated during the evaluation. To the S of Eldbottle Wood the remains of a medieval settlement were identified, comprising midden deposits, floors and stone structures. Between Archerfield House and the woods of Duncan's Plantation a complex arrangement of post-alignments was identifed covering approximately 2ha.
Sponsor: Caledonian Heritable
L Baker 1999
NT 5066 8576 At the site of the scheduled cairn a scarped mound can be seen. It appears to be be a large natural dune with a smaller man made cairn built on top. If the two are taken to be one feature it looks like a scarped mound. The description given by Barclay and Ashmore corresponds to the dimensions of the man made upper section. The description given by Leslie which is found under the NMRS entry for the cists find spot corresponds to the dimensions of the large natural dune and the smaller man made cairn on top. At the location given for the cists find spot (NT 5057 8576) there is no such feature. The description given by Leslie also mentions the location of a flag staff. This appears to have been incorrectly located from the 1854 Ordance Survey 1:10,560 map. When plotted, the actual location for the flag staff lies to the south-west of both of the other features (NT 5046 8567). This location was confirmed by excavations carried out during the recent evaluation.
L Baker 1999