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

  SM4376_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010293)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a prehistoric settlement, a prehistoric enclosure, a Roman camp and a post-medieval settlement, which together span a period probably from around 1200 BC to AD 1600. This complex of archaeological sites survives as buried features visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The cropmarks define all four sides of a rectangular Roman camp with rounded corners. There is an earlier roundhouse in its SW corner and a series of other settlements and related features immediately to its S. The monument is located on level ground on the N side of Montrose Basin, some 4km from the coast at around 10m above sea level. The monument was first scheduled in 1986, but the documents did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The Roman camp measures approximately 195m NNW-SSE by 160m transversely, enclosing an area of around 3ha. There are three visible entrances. The one on the southern end of the E side is protected by an external ditch (a titulus), and a second entrance is placed directly opposite this on the W side of the camp. A third entrance is visible in the middle of the S side of the camp. The prehistoric settlement comprises a large roundhouse visible in the SW corner of the camp and a group of at least four further roundhouses lying just S of the camp. An oval enclosure measuring approximately 50m E-W by 40m N-S, apparently partitioned internally, lies immediately E of the unenclosed settlement. The enclosure seems to be overlain by the remains of two elongated buildings set at right angles, probably indicating the footings of a post-medieval farm.
 
The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include 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 scheduled area specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences, hedges and telegraph poles.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it has significant potential to contribute to our understanding of the construction, use and role of Roman camps. It also preserves rare evidence of an unenclosed Iron Age settlement and an oval enclosure occurring in the same location, with the later occupation of the enclosure during the post-medieval period demonstrating use of this landscape over an extended period. The superimposition of a Roman camp over an Iron Age settlement suggests the site may provide evidence of the nature of native-Roman interaction. Spatial analysis of Roman temporary camps and the roads that connected them can inform our understanding of Roman military strategy. The site also has high potential to enhance our understanding of the impact of the Roman presence on local Iron Age communities and the landscape of Scotland. The loss of this monument would impede our ability to understand the construction and use of temporary camps by the Roman army on campaign, both in northern Angus and across Scotland as a whole, as well as our knowledge of Iron Age building practices, economy and social structure.

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.