A broad buried ditch on a low knoll may belong to a large prehistoric barrow, despite later levelling and development around it.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably Neolithic or Bronze Age
- Architect / designer
- Prehistoric builders
- Type
- Buried circular barrow or enclosure
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM5602)
- OS grid reference
- NX 18906 97285
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
Aerial evidence records a circular enclosure about 35 metres across within a ditch roughly five metres wide. No dependable surface earthwork is now visible.
Its story
Nineteenth-century levelling reportedly exposed human bones. Twentieth-century aerial photography and survey identified the buried circuit, leading to statutory protection.
Why it is included
The possible funerary origin and survival beneath a modern town neighbourhood add an important prehistoric layer to Girvan’s map.
What to notice
- Low knoll within the surrounding street pattern.
- Circular cropmark visible only in suitable aerial conditions.
- Absence of standing masonry or visitor interpretation.
Reading the surroundings
This is protected buried archaeology, not a visible visitor monument. View its setting from lawful public routes and do not enter or disturb enclosed ground.
Timeline
- 1856 The Ordnance Survey recorded levelling and the reported discovery of human remains.
- 1952 Aerial photography revealed a sub-circular ditched enclosure.
- 1977 Field survey found no reliable surface trace.
- 1993 National scheduling protected the buried archaeological remains.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The barrow interpretation is probable rather than proven because no modern excavation has established its date or function.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Mote Hill Barrow, SM5602 — Designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove: Mote Hill — Survey history, aerial evidence, reported discoveries and present visibility.
Location
OS grid reference NX 18906 97285 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the second source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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