Scheduled Monument

Auchencar,hut circle and field system 700m NE ofSM4648

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
06/03/1989
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: field clearance cairn, cairnfield; field or field system; hut circle, roundhouse
Local Authority
North Ayrshire
Parish
Kilmory
NGR
NR 89900 36705
Coordinates
189900, 636705

Description

The monument is a very well preserved hut circle and associated field system, lying on the N bank of the Auchencar Burn. The hut circle comprises an earth and stone bank spread to 3m in width ad 0.6m high, enclosing a level, featureless area 6.5m in diameter. There is a 1.5m wide entrance in the SE with a single orthostat on the W side. To the N and E lies a wall of boulders enclosing an area c 130m (E-W) by 80m transversely.

There are slight traces of subdivision and of field clearance in this area. The monument represents the remains of a small farming unit of the Bronze Age/Iron Age. To protect the visible remains, and a portion of the outfield which would lie beyond the wall, an area measuring 200 E-W by a maximum of 170m N 'S, bounded on the S by the Auchencar Burn, is proposed for scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its excellently preserved field characteristics. It is of particular interest because of the apparent completeness of the field system. It is of national importance to the themes of prehistoric settlement and agriculture. Taken with the hut circles to the N, it is of national importance to the theme of the organisation and development of the prehistoric landscape.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NR 83 NE 5.

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: 05/11/2026 08:34