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

  SM13651_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015281)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a fort, probably dating to the Iron Age (between about 800 BC and AD 500). The fort's ramparts are visible as turf-covered banks and the ditches as depressions. The monument lies 20m above sea level, on a ridge orientated west-southwest north-northeast. There are views northwest and southwest from the site towards the coast.

The fort consists of an oval enclosure, measuring 42m in length and 16m in width, on a ridge summit defined in places by a low bank. Both the north and south ends of the ridge are cut by two deep ditches with a bank between each ditch. The northern defences are particularly well preserved with the bank up to 2m in height. Taking in the outer ramparts the monument measures up to 70m in length. There is a slumped area at the north-east corner of the fort, and this may have been an entrance.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan and includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling extends to, but excludes, the stone dyke to the west of the fort.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our knowledge and understanding of the design and construction of Iron Age forts, and prehistoric forts in general, in the south and southwest of Scotland. The fort has good field characteristics, allowing us to interpret its form and position in the landscape and has potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains, including artefacts and palaeoenvironmental evidence. There are numerous other broadly contemporary monuments in the vicinity, including other forts as well as enclosed and unenclosed Iron Age settlements which together can contribute to our understanding of the form of the prehistoric landscape.  This is important for enhancing our understanding of prehistoric society, its organisation, economy, religion and demography. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the use of forts and their role and function within the prehistoric communities which constructed them.

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.

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