Scheduled Monument

Bellmuir,hut circles 450m SW of AuchencrieveSM4525

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
31/05/1988
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: hut circle, roundhouse
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Methlick
NGR
NJ 86363 36888
Coordinates
386363, 836888

Description

The monument comprises the remains of two circular house stances (hut circles) of the Bronze Age or Iron Age, some 2000 to 3500 years old. The northwestern circle measures 10.5m in diameter and is mutilated in the SW arc. The southeastern circle measures about 10m across. Areas measuring 30m in diameter, centred on both of the circles, are proposed for scheduling, to include the circles and areas around them in which traces of activity associated with their construction and use will survive.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a pair of houses which have the potential to enhance our understanding of prehistoric settlement. Their main importance lies in their likely relationship to the settlement and field system complex immediately to the E; they could increase our understanding of the nature and function of the elements of that complex. These two houses could add considerably to our knowledge of the use and development of this surviving fragment of the prehistoric landscape.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NJ 83 NE 34.

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to Bellmuir,hut circles 450m SW of Auchencrieve

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 10/04/2026 13:05