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

  SM2082_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008352)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a small promontory fort. Ramparts with medial ditches cut off the base of an elongated triangle, the other two sides being defined by the edges of cliffs. The ramparts do not exceed 1m in height, nor the ditches 1m in depth, as presently surviving. A narrow causeway leads through to the interior of the fort. To the E of this causeway there are 3 ramparts and 2 ditches, to the W only 2 and 1 respectively.

Indefinite foundations survive within the fort, and are probably of later date than the ramparts. Artefacts discovered on the site suggest a middle to late Iron Age date (c. 100 BC to c. 500 AD) for use of the interior.

The area to be scheduled is triangular, bounded on the E and W by the top of steep cliffs and on the N by a line drawn 20m N of the outer foot of the outermost rampart, 115m N-S by a maximum of 45m E-W, as indicated in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine field monument, an excellent example of a small northern multivallate promontory fort, with proven evidence of surviving occupation deposits. Surface features and location, together with evidence available upon excavation, offer considerable information about the construction, use and place in contemporary settlement patterns of such small forts, which are a significant, although numerically small, category in an area more noted for brochs.

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.