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

  SM2743_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008915)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fort dating from the Iron Age (around 500 BC to AD 500). The monument was originally scheduled in 1968, but the area covered by the designation did not relate accurately to the remains on the ground. The current rescheduling rectifies this.

The fort is situated on the summit of White Hill, with steep drops to the NW, SW and SE. A series of defensive enclosures is visible. The innermost defences comprise two, roughly concentric, palisaded enclosures (stout fences), enclosed by the remains of three defensive ramparts, possibly incomplete.

The inner palisade encompasses a regular oval-shaped area measuring 133m from NE to SW by 80m transversely; the line of the palisade is visible as a shallow trench up to 1m wide. The distance between the inner and outer palisades ranges from 8m to 18m, although the outer palisade can only be traced over half the circuit and is not visible on the N and S arcs. Entrance gaps up to 6m wide are positioned in the centre of the NE and SW sides of both palisaded enclosures.

Outwith the palisades lie three incomplete lines of defence. The innermost comprises the remains of a low rampart with an external quarry ditch. A sector of the rampart on the S side has not been completed; instead a shallow palisade trench is visible. There are two entrances on the NE and SW respectively, in line with those of the palisades.

The second line of defence is visible on the W as a low bank with external quarry ditch. A shallow palisade trench runs from the SW end of this bank around the SW face of the hill; it may originally have been continuous around the S face, joining a further short stretch of palisade trench visible on the SE. The third line of defence lies further to the W and consists simply of a quarried terrace. Both the second and third lines of defence have associated quarry pits.

The area to be scheduled includes the remains described and an area around them in which associated evidence may be expected to survive. The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures a maximum of 307m from E to W by 166m transversely, as shown in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric settlement, economy and social organisation. The probability that the site is multi-period, with the various defences being constructed at different times, further enhances its importance, as does its proximity to other settlement sites of similar date but different form.

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.