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

  SM6030_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011923)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of part of a multivallate fort of prehistoric date surviving as a series of earthworks.

The monument occupies the summit of Skid Hill, the highest of the Garleton Hills, which rises to 186m OD. It commands extensive views particularly to the N. Much of the interior of the fort has been destroyed by a now-disused quarry and only the NW part of the fort remains, together with around half of the original circuit of defences. The surviving part of the interior is occupied by a series of terraces which may have held domestic buildings.

The best preserved sector of the ramparts lies on the W of the fort. The outer rampart survives to a height of 0.5m externally and is spread to a width of approximately 3m. It is traceable running N-S on the W of the fort and again on the N where it follows the edge of a terrace and survives to 0.3m internally. The surviving area enclosed by this outer rampart has maximum dimensions of approximately 90m E-W by 50m N-S.

The inner rampart, also best preserved on the W, survives to a height of approximately 1.5m externally and 0.3m internally and can be traced along an upper terrace to the N. The E side of the fort appears to have been naturally defended by extremely steep slopes.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the upstanding features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 115m E-W by 150m 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. Although much of the interior has been destroyed, the monument retains the potential to provide important information relating to its chronology and function and to the nature and density of the internal occupation. This information will be of particular importance in establishing the settlement history of the wider landscape of prehistoric remains around the Garleton Hills of which this monument forms a part.

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.