Scheduled Monument

Craigmarloch Wood,fortSM4379

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
16/05/1986
Supplementary Information Updated
30/01/2025
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill fort and promontory fort)
Local Authority
Inverclyde
Parish
Kilmacolm
NGR
NS 34444 71854
Coordinates
234444, 671854

Description

The site consists of a palisaded enclosure (not visible on the surface), within which a dense artifact rich occupation layer was found. This was superseded by a timber laced fort. The area enclosed by the palisade and rampart (and by two annexes, to the SW and NE, of unknown but probably Iron Age date) lies on top of a craggy hill at the 500' contour. An area 90m E-W and 80m N-S on the hill is proposed for scheduling. Visible on the surface are the main fort and enclosure and the annexes. The fort measures approximately 52m E-W and 30m N-S. Excavation has shown that the wall is 3m thick, with roughly built faces of undressed blocks; much information on the timber-lacing of the wall was recovered.

Below, and therefore predating the wall, was discovered a dense occupation layer, which produced large quantities of pottery and other finds. Outside the wall of the fort, at the NW end, a palisade bedding trench was discovered; this is a defensive feature enclosing the occupation layer. The complete course of the palisade is not known, but it is assumed that it enclosed an area similar to the fort.

To the SW and NE of the main enclosure are two walled annexes of irregular shape. The walls of both were sectioned. The SW wall proved to be of massive construction; the NE one showed construction techniques similar to the main wall. Both annexes are almost certainly associated with the fort.

Statement of National Importance

The site is nationally important as a fine example of a lowland vitrified fort. It is important for the archaeological evidence sampled in the strictly limited 1960s excavations: the sequence of palisade to fort, the early and late dates, the large mass of well contexted Iron Age finds, and the details of rampart construction techniques. The bulk of the fort remains undug and modern excavation may reveal much more information. The site is important to the themes of prehistoric vitrified forts and palisaded settlements, prehistoric settlement and defence and prehistoric technology.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as NS 37 SW 8.

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.

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Printed: 21/07/2025 18:15