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

  SM5818_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011715)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a hillfort and external settlement of later prehistoric date surviving as a series of earthworks on the summit of Blackford Hill.

The fort occupies the highest point on Blackford Hill at around 160m OD, commanding extensive views over the surrounding area. The site is naturally defined by precipitous slopes and crags around all but the E side. To the E is a level area of ground occupied by rig and furrow cultivation, probably dating from the post-medieval period.

The fort has been defined by at least two circuits of rampart, which are intermittently visible around the perimeter. These take advantage of the natural topography of the hill and have been most imposing on the E side where natural defence is weakest. The visible ramparts contain a significant proportion of stone and a number of large facing stones are visible, particularly on the N and NE of the circuit.

The ramparts have little surface relief and have a visible spread of up to 3m. There appears to have been an entrance on the E side. The interior of the fort measures approximately 70m E-W by 50m and is irregular, with numerous patches of exposed rock. There are however, several level areas where archaeological deposits may be expected to survive.

To the E of the fort, on an area of level ground, are the circular foundations of at least four houses. Two of these can be clearly seen, and measure about 8m in diameter, while the others are less obvious.

The previously scheduled area, which encompassed the fort and the best preserved house, is to be extended to the E to include the recently discovered houses. The extended area is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 170m E-W by 100m as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The above-ground structures of the Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar, view indicator and wooden bench seat are excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of later prehistoric domestic organisation and defensive construction. The ramparts will contain information for the nature and date of their construction while the interior of the fort may be expected to contain evidence for the nature and organisation of internal occupation. The site is also important as one of a group of forts on hills in and around what is now Edinburgh, with a potential for exploring the prehistoric significance of the area which later became the national capital.

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.