Scheduled Monument
Witches Knowe,fortSM5861
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
- 16/12/1993
- Last Date Amended
- 08/08/1994
- Supplementary Information Updated
- 23/07/2021
- Type
- Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill fort and promontory fort)
- Local Authority
- East Lothian
- Parish
- Yester
- NGR
- NT 51877 63565
- Coordinates
- 351877, 663565
Description
The monument comprises the remains of a multi-vallate hillfort of prehistoric date surviving as a series of earthworks on the knoll known as Witches Knowe.
Witches Knowe is a steep-sided knoll on the S bank of a former stream and surrounded by somewhat higher hills, in the foothills of the Lammermuirs. The site commands only very limited views within its immediate vicinity. The N side of the knoll is defended by a very steep natural slope. The remainder of the circuit is defined by three ramparts enclosing an area of some 100m E-W by 45m. The area enclosed by the outermost rampart is some 150m E-W by 80m.
The middle rampart survives to the greatest height, up to a maximum of 0.5m internally and 2m externally. There are clear traces of a S-facing entrance represented by a gap in each of the ramparts and flanked on its E side by a stony bank abutting the middle rampart. The interior of the fort is uneven and aerial photographs suggest that it may contain the remains of circular domestic buildings.
The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible traces of the fort and an area immediately around it in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 170m ENE-WSW by 120m as marked in red on the accompanying map.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric defensive settlement. The ramparts may be expected to contain evidence relating to the period, sequence and methods of construction of the fort while the interior may be expected to contain evidence relating to prehistoric domestic organisation and house construction.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.