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

  SM4637_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010549)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a fort of the Iron Age, about 2000 to 2500 years old. An area measuring 120m by 90m is defended on its easy SE approach by two very large and well preserved ramparts, both are fronted by deep ditches. There is a low counterscarp bank in front of the outer ditch. At the W end of the rampart, at the point where the defences are crossed by a boundary wall, the banks and ditches disappear. It is likely that they did at one time continue a little further, running to the edge of the steep slope which provides the main defence on the W and N.

The entrance lies between the steep drop and the N end of the ramparts and ditches. In the interior there are quarry pits and a shallow quarry ditch along the rear of the inner rampart; much of the inner ramprt is built of material quarried from these. There are flattened areas in the interior which may mark the sites of house stances. The remains of houses and other structures may be preserved beneath the topsoil level in the interior.

An area measuring a maximum of 180m NE-SW by 160m transversely is proposed for scheduling, to include the whole area of the fort.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is a well preserved example of a type now relatively rare in this area; the majority of forts of this type have been ploughed flat and appear now only as crop marks. Excavation of the defences and interior could recover information of importance on the way of life of the inhabitants. The monument is of particular interest because of the excellent state of preservation of its defences, and of such features as the quarry pits in the interior. The monument is of national importance to the theme of Iron Age defence and settlement.

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.