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

  SM4217_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010170)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a cursus, linear earthwork, pit alignment and enclosures of prehistoric date, visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs. It was first scheduled in 1979. A recent survey carried out by the RCAHMS has shown the scheduled area to be inadequate to cover all the archaeological remains. The present scheduling rectifies this.

The cursus monument lies N of the dismantled Dumfries-Moniaive railway. It is defined by a ditch; its sides are parallel with rounded terminals. It measures c.350m from N-S and 30m due E/W. Within the northern part there are one or more lines of postholes running parallel with and inside the ditch. Further south there are, within the cursus enclosure, two posthole alignments, two possible pit-like features and a proable ring-ditch.

Small parts of the cursus were excavated in 1997. Two trenches were opened: one over the northern terminal to investigate sections of the ditch as well as some internal features, the other further south, to invesigate a possible entrance. Preliminary indications suggest that the ditch was recut at least once and the postholes may represent an earlier post-defined cursus or some sort of revetment structure, where as the posthole alignments may have been a facade or screen used to partially close off the entrance.

To the E of the cursus, aerial photography has revealed a linear earthwork, pit alignment and possible enclosures.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them, within which related material is likely to survive. It is irregular in shape and measures 485m from its northernmost point to its southernmost point and 165m due E/W. A small area of woodland that runs across the site containing a mixture of mature beech and oak trees is included in the schedule as archaeological remains may survive between and beneath the root plates.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its close proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date including another cursus to the south and a stone circle. These three sites are generally regarded as a single monument complex. The other archaeological remains within the scheduled area may represent activity predating the cursus or subsequent to it, and have the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the development of monument complexes.

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.