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Plenderleith is a scooped settlement located in Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders. The monument consists of a series of shallow depressions in the landscape, characteristic of settlement patterns from the medieval period when communities created sunken or semi-subterranean dwellings for improved insulation and protection from the elements. The site lies upon Silurian to Devonian extrusive rocks, primarily mafic lava and tuff, which would have presented significant challenges for construction but provided a sturdy foundation for habitation.
The scooped morphology of the settlement suggests domestic activity over an extended period, with successive phases of occupation gradually deepening the ground surface through use and maintenance. Such settlements are common throughout the Borders region, reflecting patterns of rural settlement that persisted from the early medieval period into the early modern era. The local geology, composed of volcanic materials, would have influenced both the practicality of excavation and the availability of building stone for structural elements.
The site is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10741, recognising its importance in understanding medieval settlement patterns and land use in Roxburghshire. The monument contributes valuable archaeological evidence to knowledge of how communities adapted to local environmental conditions and organised their domestic spaces in this distinctive upland region of southern Scotland.
Plenderleith, scooped settlement 300m SSW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10741. View the official record →
Plenderleith is a scooped settlement located in Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10741.
Plenderleith, scooped settlement 300m SSW of 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 SM10741.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Stony Law, fort (0.9 km), Loddan, palisaded settlement 350m NW of summit (1.5 km), Loddan, fort (1.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Plenderleith, scooped settlement 300m SSW of'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.
Plenderleith, scooped settlement 300m SSW of stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Silurian To Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Devonian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.