Scheduled Monument

Cardean, Roman fort 230m NW of Cardean MillSM2306

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
21/05/1963
Last Date Amended
28/07/2015
Type
Roman: fort
Local Authority
Angus
Parish
Airlie
NGR
NO 28986 45995
Coordinates
328986, 745995

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a Roman fort with two probable annexes, visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The fort dates to the late 1st century AD. The archaeological remains survive beneath the ploughsoil as buried features and deposits. The cropmarks identify all four sides of the fort, with two attached annexes to the SE and SW, and a Roman road entering the fort from the NE. The fort measures approximately 207m NW-SE by 179m transversely, enclosing an area of about 3.7ha, making it one of the largest Roman forts in Britain. A defensive system of one turf-built bank, 6.1m wide, and four substantial ditches, between 5-15m wide and 1.5-3m deep, defines its perimeter. A series of buildings and thoroughfares are clearly visible in the interior. Limited excavations between 1966-1975 revealed the presence of rows of timber barracks, a large granary and cobbled streets. The fort is located on a promontory at the confluence of the River Isla and the Dean Water at 50m above sea level. The monument was first scheduled in 1963, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present amendment rectifies this. The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduled area specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of Roman forts, including their dating, design, methods of construction, uses and wider role. Although no longer surviving as an upstanding earthwork, the cropmark evidence, together with the results of limited excavations and survey, confirm that this is a complete, well-preserved and exceptionally large Roman fort, built during the first attempt by the Romans to conquer Caledonia in the AD 80s. There is high potential for important archaeological evidence to survive in the fills of the enclosure ditches, including dateable organic remains and artefactual and environmental evidence relating to the occupation of fort. Within the fort, there is confirmed potential for the presence of occupation evidence, including structural remains, rubbish pits, bread ovens and other buried deposits, which can inform our understanding of the daily life, organisation and provisioning of the Roman army. Palaeoenvironmental evidence from the ditch fills could also provide information about the landscape, agriculture and environment at the time of the fort's construction. Spatial analysis of Roman camps, forts and road networks can inform our understanding of Roman military strategy and offer insights into the impact of the Roman occupation on the native Iron Age communities and the local landscape. The loss of this monument would significantly affect our understanding of the construction and use of forts by the Roman army and our knowledge of Roman military structure, economy and social practices.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NO24NE 12. Original scheduling file no. SC 23262/1A

Aerial photographs used:

1. CUCAP (1972) A35685/po NO24NE12

2. RCAHMS (1977) AN/3347 NO24NE12

3. CUCAP (1979) A35305/po NO24NE12

4. CUCAP (1979) A35306/po NO24NE12

5. RCAHMS (1982) AN/5571 NO24NE12

References

Hoffman, B 2001, The results of the survey of the Roman fort of Cardean, August 2001(unpublished typescript).

Robertson, A S 1976, 'Agricola's campaigns in Scotland, and their aftermath', Scot Archaeol Forum 7, 4-9.

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.

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Printed: 27/04/2024 06:30