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

  SM12816_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014372)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a hut circle, probably of late Bronze Age or Iron Age date (first or late second millennium BC), standing within an oval enclosure. Both the hut circle and enclosure are visible as low stony banks that occupy a gentle SE-facing slope around 540m WSW of Middleton.

Situated in an area of grazing, the hut circle appears as a low, roughly circular bank, composed of turf and stone. Measuring around 6m in diameter, the spread bank of the hut circle is about 2m in thickness and still stands to a maximum height of 0.3m on its western arc. The hut circle survives best on the north and east, with the SW arc poorly defined. A possible field drain runs E-W through the hut circle and is flanked by slight banks on either side. No entrance is visible.

Defined by a low stony bank that incorporates several boulders, the outer enclosure is oval-shaped and measures approximately 29m N-S by 24m transversely. It stands up to 0.3m in height and is spread to around 2m. The outer enclosure appears as a continuous bank, partially cut into the slope, and no obvious entrance is visible. On the NE arc of the enclosure there is a possible revetted platform, creating an area of about 16m E-W by 10m transversely , that may represent a yard or further enclosure.

The area proposed for scheduling is circular in shape, to include the remains described and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics

The monument is a well-preserved later prehistoric enclosed settlement or homestead, dating probably to the first or second millennium BC. Objects found through metal detecting on the site date to around 1000 BC, suggesting occupation in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age.

The hut circle offers excellent potential for the survival of well-preserved archaeological deposits relating to its construction, occupation and abandonment. Additionally there is good potential for associated remains, such as middens and craft activity, in the area immediately surrounding the hut circle, while the interior of the enclosure offers strong potential for evidence that can enhance our understanding of the domestic economy of the people occupying the site. As a whole, the monument offers us excellent potential to enhance our understanding of the daily lives of its inhabitants and of later prehistoric domestic settlement and architecture. Through comparing this site with similar sites elsewhere in Scotland, we can identify regional trends and traditions.

Contextual characteristics

In the late Bronze Age and earlier Iron Age, which is probably when this site was occupied, a worsening climate and rising population meant increased competition and pressure on food and land. While this site does not occupy a strong defensible position, the enclosure probably served to deter casual raiders as well as keeping wild animals out and preventing stock from wandering. Extended families probably occupied enclosed settlements such as this.

Enclosed settlements are found across Scotland and northern England, but the considerable variety in their forms and settings, and the fact that rather few have been adequately investigated, makes recognition of any distribution patterns difficult at a broad scale. The remains of later prehistoric domestic settlements tend to survive in marginal land or in landscapes where intensive cultivation has not been practiced. Across this region, the majority of upstanding hut circles, enclosures and other later prehistoric period earthworks are located in upland and moorland settings.

An enclosed settlement of similar size at Knockmade near Lochwinnoch underwent excavation in the 1960s, which revealed a pair of hut circles. The collection of finds indicated occupation in the 1st millennium BC, although the recovery of a rotary quern fragment suggests a date from the 3rd or 2nd century BC onwards.

Research suggests people organised the internal space of hut circles in specific ways. For example, the Bronze Age and Iron Age houses at Cladh Hallan on South Uist clearly showed certain activities taking place in specific parts of the house, based partly on practical considerations as well as social conventions and (possibly) spiritual or ritual beliefs.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of the past, in particular late Bronze Age and early Iron Age society, and the nature of later prehistoric domestic settlement and economy. The good level of preservation, the rarity of this type of monument in this area, and the survival of marked field characteristics, enhance this potential. The loss of this site would significantly impede our ability to understand domestic settlement and architecture of the later prehistoric period in this part of Scotland.

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.