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

  SM7205_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012816)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an area of enclosures and settlement remains, dating to the prehistoric and medieval periods, visible as a series of cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument occupies an area of arable farmland at around 10m OD. The NW part of the site is occupied by a series of large rectilinear enclosures defined by substantial ditches. The largest measures approximately 125m NW-SE by at least 125m, with a well defined entrance in the middle of its NE side.

The boundary ditch of this enclosure appears to have been re-aligned on at least one occasion, as multiple lines of ditch are visible in places. Within this area of enclosures are set the remains of several curvilinear structures which appear to represent the remains of prehistoric settlement.

The enclosures, however, seem more likely to relate to the medieval settlement of Inchture, the focal point of which is represented by the parish church, close to the W of the area proposed for scheduling.

On the SE part of the site is a dense scatter of smaller features, most seemingly representing the remains of prehistoric circular buildings and associated features. Among the most unusual, however, are two dense, dark rectangular cropmarks, measuring approximately 7m by 5m and 4m by 3m, set at right angles to each other in the SE area of the site.

These would appear to represent the remains of sunken-floored rectangular buildings of a type which would be expected to date to the medieval period. The survival of such buildings in the lowland zone is extremely rare.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described above and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 332m between its N and S-most points, and 310m between its E and W-most 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 both of prehistoric settlement and economy, and of rural settlement in the medieval period. Its importance is enhanced by the occurrence of prehistoric and later features on the same site, providing an extremely rare opportunity to trace the development of rural settlement from the prehistoric to the medieval period.

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.