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

  SM3193_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600009298)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a fort of prehistoric date. The monument was first scheduled in 1972, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present scheduling rectifies this.

The monument lies on the summit of Wester Craiglockhart Hill, at around 175m OD, on an elongated, narrow ridge which falls away sharply to the N and S. The fort measures up to 50m from W-E, by 18m N-S. Its most visible feature today is a defensive rock-cut ditch, at least 2.5m wide, which crosses the ridge cutting off access to the hilltop from the W. The fort itself is defined by a stone wall enclosing an area of about 27m by 18m along the ridge. The entrance approach was probably from the E where the land slopes away more gently. A small knoll with a level surface immediately to the NE is likely also to have preserved remains of occupation or other activities.

Small-scale excavations of the fort in 1971 showed that the enclosing wall was about 2.5m wide and that its outer face survives to a height of about 0.7m. Within the interior, at least two phases of activity were discerned. The earlier phase comprised midden material mixed with rubble from the enclosure wall, indicating an episode of abandonment or destruction. Later paving and a hearth indicated that the site was re-occupied shortly afterwards. The site is comparatively rich in finds, particularly sherds of coarse pottery and burnt and unburnt animal bones, as well as fragments of Roman glass, a piece of samian ware and a round bead of Antrim bauxite, indicative of occupation at least in the 1st or 2nd century AD. A unique bronze spiral armlet has also been recovered from the hilltop, reportedly from a kitchen midden. Forts of this general type are characteristic of the Iron Age.

The interior of the fort has been disturbed by the construction of two circular, ditched-and-banked gun emplacements of uncertain date: one immediately E of the rock-cut ditch, and another in the area of the fort entrance to the E. A third gun emplacement occurs further to the E.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in plan and has maximum dimensions of 165m SW-NE by 90m NW-SE, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric defended settlement and economy.

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.