Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace
Traprain Summit Cairn
Early Iron Age (800–400 BCE)·Hallstatt / Early Iron Age·🇬🇧 Scotland, East Lothian, United Kingdom
About
About Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace
Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace in Scotland, East Lothian, United Kingdom is a Early Iron Age (800–400 BCE) hillfort attributed to Hallstatt / Early Iron Age. Systematic survey and magnetometry document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal platform and workshop area. Dimensions 237m × 78m; area 26.8 ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition preserved. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Hallstatt / Early Iron Age hillfort with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 220 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Construction technique
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 800–600 BCE
- Period
- Early Iron Age (800–400 BCE)
- Culture
- Hallstatt / Early Iron Age
- Builders
- Hallstatt
- Purpose
- Defensive hillfort and administrative centre
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 800–600 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1104 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1952
Antiquarian record, modern excavation from 1960s
On the ground
Structures & features
55.9500° N · 2.7000° W · 220 m · 3 mapped features
- Principal MonumentstructurePrincipal Monument at Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace — structure with stratified deposits55.9490° N · 2.7005° W
- Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary Complex at Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace — complex with stratified deposits55.9489° N · 2.6998° W
- Outlier FeatureoutlierOutlier Feature at Traprain Law — Summit Cairn Terrace — outlier with stratified deposits55.9497° N · 2.6995° W
Gallery