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

  SM3040_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600009162)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fort, a defended settlement site dating from the later prehistoric period. The monument was originally scheduled in 1971, but the area covered by the designation was not properly defined. The current rescheduling rectifies this.

The fort lies at around 360m OD on a W-facing hillslope overlooking the valley of the Soonhope Burn. It is defined by two stone walls, much reduced by stone-robbing, which enclose a maximum area of 65m E-W by 60m N-S. Little survives of the outer wall round the W half of the fort, but on the E its debris appears as a stony bank accompanied by an outer ditch. Where best preserved, the bank stands 1m above the bottom of the ditch. The inner wall can still be traced for almost its entire circuit as a stony bank standing up to 0.6m in height. The entrance is on the S and appears to have led obliquely through the defences. A wall linking the inner and outer walls immediately to the W of the entrance serves to create an annex on the E side of the monument. The interior of the fort measures about 45m E-W by 40m N-S and slopes slightly uphill to the E. There are no surface indications of the positions of buildings or other structures within the fort.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape, measuring a maximum of 100m E-W by 90m N-S, as shown in red on the attached map. The W and NW boundaries of the scheduled area are defined by the edge of the forestry road.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric settlement, economy and social organisation. Its proximity to other settlement sites of similar date, but different form, further enhances its importance. The poor defensive position of this supposed defended settlement is a matter of particular interest.

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.