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

  SM4586_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010499)

Summary

Description

The monument is a settlement of the later Bronze Age/Iron Age (2500 to 3500 years old), overlain in part by a settlement dating from before the agricultural improvements (200 to 500 years old), both associated with contemporary field systems. The earlier settlement comprises the remains of thirteen stone-walled circular houses.

Three of the houses are of double walled "Dalrulzian" type, measuring between 12.5m and 16.5m in diameter. Nine are of single walled construction and measure between 7m and 12m in diameter. Two of these houses are joined together, as is seen infrequently elsewhere in the area. The thirteenth house measures 18m in diameter and, although it seems only to have a single wall, is probably a poorly preserved "Dalrulzian" type.

The complex field system associated with the settlement is marked by clearly defined field banks, lynchets and clearance cairns (some of which may actually be burial cairns). The later settlement comprises the remains of at least four long houses, measuring about 20m by 6m, one of which is surrounded by a later yard. Some walls mark the extent of the contemporary field system. Within the area to be scheduled are the damaged remains of a burial cairn of the Bronze Age, measuring 12m in diameter and 1m high. The remains of burials associated with the earlier settlement may survive beneath it.

A five-sided area measuring a maximum of 640m E-W by a maximum of 510m N-S is proposed for scheduling, to include the later Bronze Age/Iron Age settlement and field system and the pre-improvement settlement and field system, and the Bronze Age cairn, as delineated in red on the attached map. The S boundary of the area is defined by the course of an un-named burn. The W and N sides of the area are defined by modern field boundaries, which are themselves excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The earlier monument is of national importance as a well preserved and extensive settlement of the later Bronze Age/Iron Age, with its associated field system, which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of settlement and economy in the prehistoric period. Because of its considerable size the settlement is of particular importance to the study of early village development.

The later part of the monument is of national importance as an unusually large and well preserved farming settlement which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of settlement and agricultural practices before the agricultural improvements of recent centuries. Taken with other monuments in the area the two settlements have the potential to increase our knowledge of the development and use of the landscape in prehistoric and historic times.

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.