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

  SM11021_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013841)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a promontory fort of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding earthworks. Forts of this type are characteristic of the later Iron Age and Early Historic period (c.100BC-AD700).

The monument occupies the coastal promontory of Cleaved Head, where it sits about 20-25m OD above the shoreline, overlooking the sheltered Bay of Cullen. The most obvious features of the site are two ditches and ramparts, with traces of a third, cutting off the neck of the promontory from the mainland. The easternmost ditch is the best-preserved, having a scarp measuring up to 1.5m high with a counterscarp measuring around 0.5m high. The rest of the promontory is protected by steep rocky cliffs. Later disturbance to the site has removed any evidence for an entrance, but this is likely to have been on the SE side where a comparatively easy route leads to the shore. No evidence of fortification or settlement has been positively identified within the interior of the fort.

Despite its substantial earthwork defences, the site appears not to have been selected for its defensive capabilities; it is overlooked by cliffs on its SE side and would have been vulnerable to missile attack. The ramparts separating the promontory from the mainland would appear to have had more to do with prestige or defining boundaries than with simple defence.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape, covering a maximum distance of 200m from its northeasternmost to southwesternmost points with a maximum width of 87m NW-SE, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The scheduled area is specifically intended to include the two caves in the cliffs at the sides of the promontory.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to our understanding of society, settlement and economy in the Iron Age. The apparently undisturbed nature of the interior of the forts means that the archaeological evidence may survive well. The location of this site in relation to a sheltered bay opens the possibility that it may retain evidence for exploitation of the sea both in the form of fishing and gathering, and as a local and possibly long distance trade route. The relationship between this site and other promontories along the S coast of the Moray Firth adds to the interest of this monument.

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.