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

  SM11659_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014061)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an upstanding hut circle with visible evidence suggesting at more than one phase of development. Hut circles are dwellings dating to the later prehistoric period. It lies on the E-facing slope of Birk Hill in an open area of moorland at 370m OD. A dense growth of heather currently obscures much of the monument.

The monument consists of a small hut circle contained concentrically within a larger one. The larger hut circle appears as a sub-circular stony bank approximately 11.5m in diameter with walls approximately 2m wide. The entrance is visible as a gap in the wall in the ENE quadrant. The smaller hut circle appears as a sub-circular stony bank, approximately 1.5m wide and approximately 6.7m in diameter. The monument is located c. 800m to the W of an area of numerous hut circles situated on the lower slopes of Tom Dubh.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, centred on the inner hut circle, to include the remains described and an area around in which evidence for their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is a well-preserved upstanding archaeological site. It is unexcavated and therefore has the potential to provide high quality archaeological evidence of the construction, use and abandonment of later prehistoric dwellings. The constructional development of the site enhances this potential. The structure, orientation and features such as the concentric circular stone banks and a possible entrance common to both inner and outer circles all survive in a good state of preservation.

Contextual characteristics: Hut circles are a relatively common type of later prehistoric settlement site recorded across Strathdon and wider afield in eastern and southern Scotland. This monument is an important example because it displays what we interpret as a development sequence, with the presence of two circular stone banks (outer and inner), unlike more common examples with a single circular bank, or bank and internal ditch arrangement. The monument lies within 800 m of other hut circles which therefore enhances our ability to understand the settlement context of domestic activity on the site.

Associative characteristics: The monument is the product of later prehistoric peoples and demonstrates the dominant type of dwelling in use during the Bronze and Iron Ages in northern Scotland.

National Importance

The monument is of National Importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of the past, in particular the settlement and economy of Scotland during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Its relatively good preservation, constructional development, and wider landscape context enhance this potential. The loss of this example would affect our ability to understand the Bronze and Iron Ages in this part of Scotland.

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.