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

  SM2429_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008655)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the well-preserved remains of Dun a'Gheird, a firtified building of Iron Age date, visible as an upstanding structure. The monument was first scheduled in 1964, but is being re-scheduled now to clarify the extent of the scheduled area.

The monument is situated on a low boss at about 40m OD and occupies the S end of a steep-sided rocky spur, about 1km SW of Kilvickeon Old Parish Church (alternative spelling Kilviceuen). The monument consists of the well-preserved remains of a galleried dun, a type of monument sometimes called a 'complex Atlantic roundhouse'. The dun is roughly sub-rectangular on plan and measures about 11m NNE-SSW by 9m transversely. It is defined by a stone wall, which varies in thickness from c.4.3m on the N side to c.2.4m on the S side. Much of the circuit of the outer face can still be traced; on the N it rises to 0.7m above the level of the debris outside. Only a few inner facing-stones can be seen. There are traces of an intramural gallery within the thickness of the wall at various points, which may originally have continued around the entire circuit. The gallery is best preserved on the S, where it stands 0.6m high, and several of the roof lintels are still in position.

There are two entrances, diametrically opposed, in the NE and SW. The W passage-wall of the NE entrance is particularly well-preserved, standing to a maximum height of 1.2m in ten neatly built courses. It has been checked for a door c.1.5m from the line of the outer face, and immediately within the checkthere is a bar-hole, 2.5m long and 0.2m by 0.15m in cross-section. The inner part of the passage exhibits a pronounced curve on plan. Of the opposite wall only the outer crner survives, indicating that at its mouth the passage measured about 1.4m in width. The SW entrance is 1.2m wide on the line of the inner face, but 0.5m from the outer end its width has been reduced by rebates, only one of which (that in the E passage) now survives. Immediately inside the surviving rebate there is a square bar-hole 0.3m long. The two lintels apparently still in position over the inner part of the passage lie little more than 0.5m above the present ground-level inside the dun, indicating that the interior is probably filled with a considerable amount of debris.

A massive boulder-faced, rubble-covered revetting wall, at least 1.8m thick, has been built against the dun wall on the N. In the centre of the spur its outer face stands 1.5m high in five courses, and on the W flank, where it abuts againstthe outer face of the dun, it attains a height of as much as 2.2m. The revetment appears to have been interrupted in line with the entrance of the dun.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is irregular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 77m NE-SW by 44m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map. It is bounded on the E by the base of the cliff, but on the W extends to include the breadth of the adjacent gully, which may have served as an access route to the dun from the shore.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of later prehistoric defended settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its good state of preservation and, given the likely quantity of archaeological debris surviving within the dun, by its very high archaeological potential. The monument also has value as one of a number of monuments in this vicinity of potentially contemporary date.

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.