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

  SM13318_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014479)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of the SSW end of a ditch-defined cursus (a ritual and ceremonial monument resembling a sacred avenue), visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The cursus occupies an area of relatively level ground immediately S of Inveresk at around 20m OD.

The cursus dates to the Neolithic period (between 4000 BC and 2000 BC). The total length of the cursus is around 910m, but this scheduling relates only to its SSW end, which is about 340m in length. The northern end of the cursus lies in a field to the N and is up to 520m long; it is scheduled separately. The cropmarks indicate that, unusually, the cursus comprises two pairs of substantial parallel linear ditches, aligned N-S and around 135m apart (a possible third ditch is visible along the W side of the cursus in the field to the N). This indicates that the ditches may have been re-dug and the cursus re-built at least twice in this location, which suggests the site may have been in use over a considerable period.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes all post-and-wire fences, stone boundary walls and hedgerows for their upkeep and maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular the study of cursus monuments in eastern Scotland. The visible cropmarks indicate that this is part of an unusually large and complex, ditch-defined cursus, with high potential for the survival of important buried archaeology, including structural remains, ditches and pits, artefacts and ecofacts. The importance of this ditch-defined cursus is enhanced because it is one of the largest currently known in Scotland and is the widest so far recorded. In addition, the unusual double ditches along its sides (possibly triple along part of the W side) indicate that the site preserves a development sequence and was probably in use over a considerable period. There is also high potential to examine the spatial relationships between cursus monuments in the locality and the variations in their design and construction, which can develop our understanding of how and why these monuments were used. This monument has a particular capacity to inform debate on how major Neolithic ceremonial centres were remembered in later prehistory, how they affected the placing of later settlement, and how the use of the landscape changed through time. The loss or diminution of this monument would impede our ability to understand the cursus monuments of Scotland and their distinctive importance to Neolithic people.

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.