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

  SM3235_Legal Docs

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015524)

Summary

Description

The monument is a multi-period site comprising a prehistoric settlement and an early medieval chapel set within an sub-oval enclosure. The monument is located woodland clearing on the northeast side of Dunloskin Wood at 50m above sea level.

The visible remains include an arrangement of post holes indicating the position of two prehistoric houses, a sub-oval, intermittent turf and stone enclosure bank (measuring approximately 48m northwest-southeast by 57m transversely) within which there survives the lower courses of a rectangular stone chapel (measuring approximately 5.3m by 3.4m internally). Archaeological investigations have recovered further structural remains of floors, pits, post holes and buildings as well as a significant artefact assemblage of pottery, organic remains, a polished stone axe, and a group of stone gravemarkers, at least three of which are cross-incised. The earliest deposits date from 2790BC and the site appears to have been occupied intermintantly until the late 18th or early 19th centuries AD.

The scheduled area is an irregular polygon on plan and includes the area described above and area around it in which evidence for the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. Specifically excluded from the scheduled area are the above ground remains of interpretation signage, wooden pegs and all modern boundary features in order to allow for their continued maintenance. The monument was first scheduled in 1972 but and inadequate area was included: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because as an example of a multi-period site with intermittent occupation from the third millennium BC to the 19th century AD it has inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past. The monument has been variously used for domestic, ecclesiastical and industrial activities. Archaeological investigation has recovered a significant artefactual and ecofactual assemblage and there is high potential for features and accumulated deposists to survive in undisturbed contexts. The site enhances our understanding of prehistoric domestic occupation and the appropriation of earlier sites for Christian worship and burial. The monument's proximity to adjacent contemporary sites in Dunloskin wood adds to it significance as does comparisions with other early enclosed burial sites in southwest Scotland. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand early and multi-period sites which were intermittently occupied for over four thousand years.

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.