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

  SM6965_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012661)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric fort, visible as upstanding earthworks. Forts such as this are characteristic of the earlier part of the pre-Roman Iron Age (c.500-250BC).

The monument lies between 120m and 130m OD, on the summit of a narrow hill overlooking the valley of the Keltie Water and its confluence with the River Teith to the south. The fort is oval in plan, following the natural form of the hilltop, and measures about 90m NW-SE by about 60m transversely. It is defined by a single rampart, which is at its most substantial at the entrances to the site in the NW and SE.

In the NW, the ramparts reach a height of 3.5m where they flank the entrance. At the SE entrance, the ramparts are lower at about 1.5m, and along the sides of the monument the rampart is reduced at some points to a very low scarp. Steep slopes to the NE and SW of the fort may have reduced the necessity for substantial artificial defences along these sides. The natural form of the hill means that the interior of the fort is over 10m higher than the top of the rampart in places. Traces of an external ditch have been recorded around the entrances, but no interior features are visible.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape, measuring a maximum of 130m NW-SE by 95m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. A water tank situated c.5m to the E of the fort's SE entrance is specifically excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric defensive settlement and economy. The unusual layout of this fort, with the interior so much higher than the ramparts in places, could have particular relevance for the debate on whether such monuments were primarily defensive sites or ostentatious symbols of power.

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.