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

  SM5195_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011099)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises at least seven ring-ditches, the remains of prehistoric burial or settlement features. They appear in an arable field as marks in cereal crops; experience shows that further remains will survive in the areas (not susceptible to cropmarks) between the visible marks. The roughly circular ring-ditches vary in size from 5m-10m across within narrow and broad ditches.

There are a number of pits and other larger dark features in the immediate area of the ring-ditches. It is possible that more than one phase of activity may be represented. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 170m NE-SW by a maximum of 120m WNW-ESE, to include the area in which cropmarks are visible and areas between and around where further features are likely to survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of domestic or ceremonial structures of the mid to late prehistoric period. Even though the area is under the plough experience shows that extensive and important archaeological features and deposits will survive below plough level. Whether houses or funerary/ceremonial structures they are a group of related structures, of which very few survive in this lowland area. Their importance is enhanced because of the potential for establishing relationships between the individual ring-ditches and between this site and other prehistoric sites in the area. The monument has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the prehistoric settlement of Northern 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.