Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM11003_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013830)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fort, probably of late prehistoric date, set on a coastal promontory.

The fort is set on a steep-sided, rocky promontory at about 100m OD, commanding extensive views in all directions, except to the landward side. The defended area is roughly triangular on plan, measuring internally 55m NW-SE by 45m transversely. The fort is defined by an outer stony wall, measuring from 2.5m to 3m wide, increasing to a maximum of 6m at the entrance, which lies on the S. Traces of revetment can be seen within the entrance architecture and in the bank to the SW. Some of the large base stones can still be seen in-situ, but the wall is in general much reduced. Two natural steep-sided gullies afford protection to the fort on the SW and NE sides and a partly rock-cut, partly natural, ditch protects the fort to the SE. This ditch is approximately 50m in length and up to 1.5m deep by an average of 4m wide. The interior of the fort is grass-covered, divided into three slight terraces of which two towards the E sides appear to contain house platforms and/or small enclosures. There are six, possibly eight such platforms ranging in size from 3.0m - 7.0m in diameter, but their surface relief is not very pronounced.

The area proposed for scheduling includes the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is irregular on plan and measures a maximum of 160m NE-SW by 100m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to understanding of the character, function and development of prehistoric defended settlements and contemporary economy and land use.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.