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

  SM4218_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010171)

Summary

Description

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

The cursus is rectangular in shape with square terminals and measures 300m N-S, E-W it narrows from 40m at the S to 30m at the N. It is defined by a wide ditch, which is broken at several points by causeways. Within the cursus enclosure at the N end there is a ring ditch roughly 11m in diameter and two pit-like features; towards the S end there is a semi-circular ditched area containing two pit-like features and a rectangular enclosure.

The site was partially excavated in 1997, a trench 40m E-W by 45m N-S was opened at the northern terminal in order to provide sections of the cursus ditch and ring ditch. Some internal features and one of the ditch causeways were also examined. Preliminary indications suggest that the ring-ditch and other internal features probably predate the construction of the cursus.

Two areas cover the area to be protected, the areas being separated by the public road and its verges and hedgerows (which are excluded from the scheduled area). The northern area measuresa maximum of 105m along its long axis and a maximum of 75m along its short axis. The southern area measures a maximum of 260m along its long axis and a maximum of 95m along its short axis. Both areas include parts of the cursus monument, features within the cursus monument, and an area around the visible features in which remains associated with their use are likely to survive.

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 proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date including another cursus to the north and a stone circle. These three sites are generally regarded as a single monument complex.

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.