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Philiphaugh is a linear earthwork situated in Selkirkshire in the Scottish Borders. The monument comprises a bank and ditch arrangement characteristic of prehistoric or early medieval linear fortifications, constructed across terrain underlain by Hawick Group wacke bedrock of Wenlock age. This ancient geology provided the local stone resources utilised in the monument's construction.
Linear earthworks of this type served various purposes depending on their period and context, often functioning as territorial boundaries, stock enclosures, or defensive barriers. The Selkirkshire landscape, with its rolling terrain and river valleys, was favourable ground for such installations, which would have controlled movement across the land. The specific alignment and scale of Philiphaugh reflect its original function within the local topography.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduled monument reference SM2213, reflecting its archaeological significance and legal status. As with many linear earthworks in Scotland, precise dating and interpretation remain dependent upon detailed archaeological investigation, though the form and landscape setting provide evidence for its historical importance within the region's settlement and land-use patterns.
Philiphaugh,linear earthwork is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2213. View the official record →
Philiphaugh is a linear earthwork situated in Selkirkshire in the Scottish Borders. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2213.
Philiphaugh,linear earthwork 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 SM2213.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Middlestead,earthwork (2.1 km), Oakwood, Roman fort and camp SSE of (2.8 km), Huntly Burn,earthwork (4.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Philiphaugh,linear earthwork'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.
Philiphaugh,linear earthwork stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.