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Southfield ring ditch is a prehistoric circular earthwork located in East Lothian, Scotland, approximately 350 metres south-west of Southfield. Ring ditches of this type typically date to the Bronze Age and served as the ditched enclosures surrounding burial mounds or ceremonial structures, though the mound itself may no longer be visible. The monument is situated on bedrock of the Clackmannan Group, sedimentary deposits laid down during the Westphalian period of the Carboniferous era, which underlie much of the lowland landscape of this region.
The ring ditch survives as an archaeological feature marked by its characteristic circular ditch, which would have been dug into the local geology to create an enclosed space. Such monuments are commonly found across Bronze Age Scotland and northern England, often appearing in clusters across suitable terrain. The preservation of ring ditches as subsurface features means they frequently escape later disturbance and can retain significant archaeological potential.
Southfield ring ditch is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference number SM5688, ensuring its long-term conservation and regulating any activities that might affect the site. This statutory protection recognises the monument's archaeological significance and its contribution to understanding Bronze Age burial and ceremonial practices in East Lothian.
Southfield,ring ditch 350m SW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5688. View the official record →
Southfield ring ditch is a prehistoric circular earthwork located in East Lothian, Scotland, approximately 350 metres south-west of Southfield. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5688.
Southfield,ring ditch 350m SW 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 SM5688.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Settlement, Big Wood, 400m NW of Penkaet Rigg (6.9 km), Back Braes,enclosure (7.1 km), Ormiston Hall,St Giles Kirk (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Southfield,ring ditch 350m SW 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.
Southfield,ring ditch 350m SW of stands on Clackmannan Group, bedrock that formed in the Westphalian. The rock here is sedimentary rock cycles, clackmannan group type.