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

  SM2415_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008643)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of two Roman temporary camps, partly superimposed, but both dating probably from the Agricolan period in the late 1st century AD. The defensive ditches of both camps are visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs. The archaeological remains survive mainly beneath the ploughsoil as buried features and deposits, although parts of the rampart of the larger camp are preserved as upstanding features in later field boundaries. The camps are located at the N end of a broad ridge that rises above the S bank of the River Ythan and lie between 150m and 215m above sea level. The monument was first scheduled in 1963 and rescheduled in 1998, but the scheduled area did not adequately cover all of the archaeological remains: the present amendment rectifies this.

The two camps are different sizes and on different alignments. The large camp, Ythan Wells I, is aligned NE-SW and measures around 805m NE-SW by 590m transversely, enclosing an area of 45.3ha (112 acres). Unusually, the rampart is preserved along parts of the camp's SW and SE sides, where it is up to 3.7m in width and 0.7m in height. Of probably six original tituli (mounds of earth that acted as defences in front of the entrance gates), two are clearly visible as cropmarks in the NW and NE sides, placed at points where the defences change alignment. This camp overlies a much smaller camp at its NE corner, Ythan Wells II, which is aligned roughly W-E. This camp measures around 410m W-E by 325m transversely, enclosing an area of about 13.5ha (33 acres), and has rounded corners and four entrances. Stracathro-type gates with projecting ditches are visible in the N and W sides of the camp.

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 scheduling excludes the above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences and telegraph poles.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has significant potential to contribute to our understanding of Roman camps, in particular, their construction, internal organisation, use, dating and changes in their design; and their distribution and relationship with each other and with other broadly contemporary monuments in the landscape. This monument can also inform our understanding of the daily lives of Roman soldiers and enhance knowledge of the impact of Roman campaigns on local Iron Age communities and the landscape. The monument at Ythan Wells is particularly valuable because it comprises two superimposed camps of different size and type, and because it is among the northernmost of the Roman camps in Scotland: Ythan Wells I appears to be one of a linear group of particularly large camps in NE Scotland. This camp is also important because part of the defences survive as an upstanding earthwork, indicating high potential for the preservation of important remains, including artefacts and ecofacts. Ythan Wells I was documented by antiquarians in the 18th century, which adds to the understanding of this camp. If this monument were to be lost or damaged, our understanding of Roman camps and our knowledge of Roman military structure and logistics would be significantly diminished.

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.