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

  SM2715_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008889)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a later prehistoric fort which is situated on a rocky knoll at the SW end of the elongated summit of Cademuir Hill. The ground falls away steeply to the S.

The fort measures 73m by 36m within a stone wall (0.5m thick), the debris of which has formed great scree-like deposits on the flanks of the knoll. Stretches of inner and outer facing are visible on the E. The entrance was on the SW from a natural terrace which has also been bordered by a stone wall, with its entrance on the N. A smaller natural terrace on the E side of the fort is bordered by a ruined stone wall and a slight terrace to the N of the fort is also enclosed; an earlier wall cuts across this latter terrace. To the NE of the knoll is a gully 3m deep and 36m wide beyond which are the remains of chevaux de fries, a defence of upright earthfast stones, about 100 stones spread over an area about 80m across. The interior of the fort contains the remains of one ring-groove house (about 12m in diameter) and a crescentic scarp may mark the site of another.

The area to be scheduled is subcircular on plan and measures 210m from SW to NE by 180m transversely to include the fort and an area around in which traces of evidence associated with its construction and use may survive.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it represents the remains of a fort with well-defined field characteristics (including a rare example of chevaux de frise) and it is one of a group of related monuments on Cademuir Hill which have the potential to provide information about the structure, organisation and development of later prehistoric society in 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.