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

  SM11531_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014012)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a hut circle, the footings of a prehistoric house between 2000 and 3000 years old. It lies in rough pasture on the E slopes of Knock Hill, within a group of prehistoric burial cairns, hut circles, field clearance cairns and relic field boundaries identified on Knock Hill and the environs.

The hut-circle survives as an approximately circular turf-covered bank measuring 13.5m in diameter overall and up to 0.6m high. The interior is 7.5m across, enclosed by the bank (wall footing) spread up to 2-3m wide. A possible entrance is located in the SE quarter. A curving enclosure bank measuring 20m long by 2m wide abuts the S side of the hut circle.

The area to be scheduled is polygonal on plan, to include the hut circle and bank and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is in a relatively good state of preservation. It is upstanding and clearly visible in the landscape. The continued landuse as rough pasture has probably resulted in the preservation of further archaeological deposits within the structure and within and beneath the field bank. It therefore has the potential to reveal further information about local variations in domestic architecture and building use, as well as prehistoric upland landuse.

Contextual characteristics: As a well-preserved hut circle, the monument has the potential to reveal much about house building and domestic life in the later prehistoric communities of NE Scotland. Comparing and contrasting it to nearby upland hut circles as well as to lowland cropmark sites and others outside the region can create an understanding of regional identity, economy and society. The identification of a group of later prehistoric monuments on Knock Hill and the environs further enhances the value of the monument.

National Importance: This monument is of national importance because it is well preserved, which is rare for this class of monument in this region. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to our knowledge of upland landuse and society in this locality and, by association, the rest of Scotland in the later prehistoric period. The sample of associated field system is important because it preserves the relationship of the house to the immediate archaeological landscape. The loss of this rare and well-preserved site in this area would affect our future ability to research and understand the above mentioned issues.

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.