4. On the Hill Forts, Terraces, and other remains of the Early Races in the South of Scotland

Extract

The district referred to included Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, and Peeblesshire, in which Mr Chambers had visited and examined about 200 hill forts. These ancient works are found on the tops of hills of moderate elevation, and are of different classes, shewing a progressive improvement in construction. Those of the smaller kind consist of one or two concentric rings of earth and stone, with a clear space in the centre, and measure from 150 to 250 feet across. Such are considered to be the earliest in construction, and are at the least 2000 years old, though they may have been kept in use later. Their first constructors were unquestionably the aboriginal Celtic tribes, to whom they served as places of refuge and defence in petty local wars, or on the occasion of invasion.