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

  SM6053_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011945)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of three prehistoric enclosures, probably of ritual significance, represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The site lies on the outskirts of Forfar in level arable farmland at around 70m OD. The two largest enclosures are defined by broad circular ditches some 4-5m wide with overall diameters of 45m-50m. The W enclosure has a broad, E-facing entrance, while the entrance of the E enclosure is not clearly visible. Adjacent to the SW of the E enclosure is a third enclosure, or large ring ditch, some 18-20m in diameter and 3-4m broad.

These features form part of a highly unusual cluster of enclosures around Westfield House. A fourth enclosure which lay some 300m W of this group has been destroyed in recent years by a housing development. A further large enclosure lies some 200m to the S. The size and nature of the individual sites and their grouping suggests that they are more likely to relate to Neolithic ritual practice than to represent later prehistoric domestic actvity.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the three enclosures and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 240m E-W by 170m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric ritual practice. The enclosures may be expected to contain evidence for former structures and deposits associated with religious and ritual practices and the area around them likely to contain evidence for associated activities.

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.