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

  SM4592_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010504)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a palisaded homestead of the Iron Age, some 2500 years old, delineated by two concentric palisade trenches, enclosing a sub-rectangular area measuring 44m N -S, by 40m transversely, and a series of prehistoric land boundaries marked by alignments of quarry pits, visible on aerial photographs. Within the enclosure are the remains of a single circular house about 16m in diameter. The lines of quarry pits form a regular pattern of fields and it is likely that they are broadly contemporary with the palisaded enclosure.

Two areas are to be scheduled. The northern area includes the palisaded settlement and an area around it in which traces of activities associated with its use will survive and measures 90m N-S by 80m transversely, the southern includes sections of 4 pit alignments and their junctions with each other, the area to be scheduled measuring 70m square.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a palisaded homestead of the Iron Age which has the potential, through excavation, to enhance considerably our understanding of settlement in prehistory. The site is unusual in having a double palisade, which is a relatively uncommon feature. The pit alignment system is of particular importance because of its apparent completeness; it is very rare for a section of prehistoric field system to survive in lowland arable areas.

Taken together the palisaded homestead and the pit alignment system have the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric economic systems and of the development of the prehistoric landscape.

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.