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

  SM7547_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013043)

Summary

Description

This monument is a section of the Antonine Wall which runs across sloping ground to the north of Wilderness Plantation. This proposal forms part of a programme which is intended to update the scheduling of the Antonine Wall.

The Antonine Wall at this location consists of the rampart, the ditch, the berm (area between rampart and ditch) and the upcast mound. The Antonine Wall ditch and rampart have been flattened at this point, although the slight hollow of the ditch is visible in places; however, substantial buried remains are likely to survive. At the E end of this section is the site of a Roman fortlet which was attached to the rear of the Wall.

The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 800m from WSW-ENE by a maximum of 105m N-S, to include the Antonine Wall rampart, berm, ditch and upcast mound and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the Antonine Wall may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduled area is defined on its W end by field boundaries. To the N its edge lies 25m beyond the N margin of the Antonine Wall ditch and to the S its edge lies 20m beyond the S margin of the rampart. To the E and SE it is defined by the edge of two roads. Just to the W of its E end the S boundary of the scheduled area is expanded to include the remains of the fortlet W of Buchley Lodge. The Balmuildy Road is excluded from scheduling, as is the top surface of the area which has been used as a midden (south of Buchley and just to the N of the Balmuildy Road): the top surface being defined as the hard standing on which the midden has been created and the overlying midden. Deposits underneath the hard standing and midden are, however, to be scheduled.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is nationally important because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of the past, in particular the Antonine Wall and the character of Roman frontier systems more generally. The monument has high potential to add to our understanding of the dating, construction, maintenance and subsequent abandonment of the Antonine Wall. There is good potential for the recovery of dateable remains and environmental samples from the fills of the ditch as well as from ancient ground surfaces sealed by the rampart. Such information enhances our understanding of the character of the local landscape when the Antonine Wall was occupied. This stretch of the Antonine Wall contains one of only three fortlets to have been extensively excavated and the only examples of the Roman structures known as enclosures. The relationship between the fortlet and the three enclosures has the potential to enhance our understanding of the function of the frontier. The loss of the monument would impede our ability to understand the frontier and would erode the overall importance of the Antonine Wall as a single linear monument spanning central 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.