Scheduled Monument

Carstairs Mains, Roman temporary camp 750m SE ofSM11200

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
08/11/2005
Type
Roman: camp
Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Parish
Carstairs
NGR
NS 94770 44239
Coordinates
294770, 644239

Description

The monument comprises part of a Roman temporary camp, visible as a cropmark on oblique aerial photographs, lying 750m south-east of Carstairs Mains farm.

The visible part of the camp measures c.470m from east to west by c.420m from north to south and encloses an area of c.18.6ha. Two entrances, at least one with a titulum, are visible in the north side, and a third is roughly central in the east.

The boundary ditch of the camp appears as a cropmark visible from the air. From experience gained from the excavation of other sites of this kind, it is almost certain that the areas enclosed by ditch will contain features associated with the use of the camp, such as ovens.

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 and measures a maximum of 615m from the NW corner to the SE corner, by 590m from the NE to the SW, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduling specifically excludes all elements of the mausoleum to the east.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of the Flavian and/or Antonine periods of the Roman occupation of Scotland. Its importance is increased by its proximity to the scheduled Roman fort and temporary camps at Castledykes and the Roman road to the North (Castledykes to Peebles), to which it runs parallel. Despite having been plough-truncated in the modern period, it retains considerable potential to provide information on the nature of the occupation, the contemporary environment and the daily lives of Roman soldiers.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NS94SW 22.

References:

Frere S S 1984, 'Roman Britain in 1983. I. Sites explored', BRITANNIA 15, 176.

Maxwell G S and Wilson D R 1987, 'Air reconnaissance in Roman Britain 1977-84' BRITANNIA 18, 35-6.

Photographs:

RCAHMS, 1978, NS94SW 22, Carstairs Mains Roman Temporary Camp, LA 2281.

RCAHMS, 1983, NS94SW 22, Carstairs Mains Roman Temporary Camp, LA 4498.

RCAHMS, 1984, NS94SW 22, Carstairs Mains Roman Temporary Camp, 65889.

RCAHMS, 1984, NS94SW22, Carstairs Mains Roman Temporary Camp, A 30970.

RCAHMS, 1984, NS94SW22, Carstairs Mains Roman Temporary Camp, A 30969.

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: 22/07/2025 13:52