Scheduled Monument

Cotton of Balcathie, unenclosed settlement 700m WSW ofSM7068

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
23/02/1998
Supplementary Information Updated
09/03/2020
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: settlement (if not assigned to any more specific type); souterrain, earth-house
Local Authority
Angus
Planning Authority
Perth And Kinross
Parish
Arbirlot
NGR
NO 60085 38888
Coordinates
360085, 738888

Description

The monument comprises an unenclosed settlement of prehistoric date, visible as a series of cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies on a locally prominent ridge in arable farmland at around 25m OD. It comprises a cluster of cropmarks including at least five disc-shaped features, each measuring between about 8m and 12m in diameter, which represent the remains of former timber roundhouses.

Associated with these features are at least two curving cropmarks, each measuring about 15m in length, which represent the remains of souterrains (semi-subterranean structures generally regarded as having been used for storage in the later prehistoric period).

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 a quadrilateral measuring 170m between its most northerly and southerly points and 210m between its most easterly and westerly points, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 63 NW 5.

Aerial Photographs used:

RCAHMS (1983) AN/6786 NO63NW5, 6.

RCAHMS (1983) AN/6790 NO63NW5, 6.

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.

Images

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Printed: 10/04/2026 14:27