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

  SM3667_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600009712)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of two Roman camps dating probably from between AD 75 and AD 220. The camps survive as buried archaeological features that are visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The camps lie on a level terrace on the N bank of the River Tweed, at about 160m above sea level.

The cropmarks define three sides of Camp I, indicating the positions of the defensive ditches on the WNW, SSW and ESE sides. The position of the NNE side is not apparent, but it is clear that the camp measures at least 405m NNE-SSW by 335m transversely. Traces of entrances called 'Stracathro-type' are visible on the ESE and WSW sides, formed from ditches protruding out from the line of the camp sides. Camp II is smaller. It appears to share part of the WNW side of Camp I, and lies entirely within the footprint of the larger camp. Parts of all four sides of Camp II are visible, and it measures about 320m NNE-SSW by 250m transversely. Entrances are visible in the centre of the NNE and SSW sides, protected by external ditches known as 'tituli'. A prehistoric barrow represented by cropmarks of a circular ditch with central pit lies on a low ridge about 25m W of the camps.

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 fences and gates that lie at the boundaries of the scheduled area. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all other fences and gates, telegraph and electricity poles, and TV aerials. The scheduling specifically excludes the top 20cm of all areas of hard-standing. The monument was first scheduled in 1975, but the documents did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it has significant potential to contribute to our understanding of Roman camps, including their dating, construction, use and role. It preserves significant evidence for two overlying camps with different entrance types, offering potential to understand the chronological relationship and development sequence. Spatial analysis of Roman camps and the Roman roads that connected them can inform our understanding of Roman military strategy, and the impacts of the Roman presence on local Iron Age communities and the landscape of Scotland. The camps lie immediately E of an older prehistoric barrow, indicating use of the landscape over an extended period. The loss of this monument would impede our ability to understand the construction and use of temporary camps by the Roman army on campaign, both in the Scottish Borders and across Scotland as a whole.

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.