Scheduled Monument

Scotsmill, enclosure 150m WNW ofSM11112

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
09/02/2004
Supplementary Information Updated
27/08/2024
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive, rather than ritual or funerary)
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Fordyce
NGR
NJ 60884 65479
Coordinates
360884, 865479

Description

The monument comprises the ploughed-down remains of a ditched enclosure, within which are the remains of a probably building, now visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs, situated in a gently-sloping field.

The enclosure appears as a cropmark of a narrow ditch, enclosing an area measuring about 21m by 18m. The enclosure is formed of linked straight segemnts and the enclosure is actually hexagonal. In the interior there are the marks of a rectangular feature about 5m across, which may be the remains of a rectangular building. Excavation has revealed enclosures of this kind to date from the mid-first millennium BC to the first millennium AD. This example seems likely to date from the later part of the range, and may be a high status settlement of the early historic period.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 45m in diameter, centred on the enclosure, to include the enclosure and an area around in which features associated with the its construction and use are likely to survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a rare probably high status site of the first millennium AD, which has the capacity to enhance considerably our understanding of later prehsitoric and early historic settlement and social structures. The site is of particular importance because early historic settlement in this area is mainly represented by the occupation of the promontory forts.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NJ66NW 4.

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 12:52