Scheduled Monument

Fisherhills,barrow cemeterySM6104

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
10/10/1994
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: barrow
Local Authority
Angus
Parish
Montrose
NGR
NO 72864 62165
Coordinates
372864, 762165

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a barrow cemetery dating to the earlier part of the 1st millennium AD and represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies at around 20m OD on the N bank of the North Esk. It comprises the remains of at least five barrows, one square and four round. The round barrows each appear to be around 8-10m in diameter with ditches around 2m wide. Each has a well-defined central grave pit showing as a sharp, dark cropmark. The square barrow lies in the centre of the group and has sides approximately 8-10m long: it contains traces of a central grave pit.

The barrows are surrounded by a series of less well-defined cropmarks some of which might represent the remains of further burials. Barrow cemeteries of this type are generally thought to date to the earlier part of the 1st millennium AD. The area around the site contains the remains of at least two enclosed settlements which may be in part contemporary with the cemetery.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible 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 100m WNW-ESE by 100m, 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 burial practices in the earlier part of the 1st millenium AD. The possible association of the cemetery with two enclosed settlements in the vicinity further enhances their importance.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 76 SW 12.

Reference:

RCAHMS Lunan Valley/Montrose Basin List, No. 137.

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: 02/08/2025 08:26