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Cairn Sike is an earthwork situated 1220 metres north-east of Hawkhass House in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders. The monument lies upon bedrock of the Hawick Group, a formation of Wenlock wacke that underlies much of the upland terrain in this region. This stone type—a hard, compact sedimentary rock—would have presented considerable challenge to those who constructed the earthwork and influenced the character of the surrounding landscape.
The site's designation by Historic Environment Scotland (reference SM3497) recognises its significance within the archaeological heritage of the borderlands. Earthworks of this period and type in Roxburghshire commonly reflect patterns of settlement and land management across centuries, their forms shaped by both human intent and the constraints of local geology.
The precise nature and dating of Cairn Sike remain subjects for archaeological investigation, though its name suggests the presence of a cairn—a feature characteristic of many upland sites in the Scottish Borders where stone clearance, ritual activity and territorial demarcation left enduring marks upon the landscape.
Cairn Sike,earthwork 1220m NE of Hawkhass House is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3497. View the official record →
Cairn Sike is an earthwork situated 1220 metres north-east of Hawkhass House in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM3497.
Cairn Sike,earthwork 1220m NE of Hawkhass House is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM3497.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hawkhass Linn,earthwork 520m NE of Hawkhass House (0.7 km), Tinlee,standing stone 718m SSE of Peelbraehope (1.1 km), The Catrail,linear earthwork,SE slope of Singley Brae to Barry Sike (1.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cairn Sike,earthwork 1220m NE of Hawkhass House's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cairn Sike,earthwork 1220m NE of Hawkhass House stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.