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

  SM5473_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011373)

Summary

Description

This irregularly shaped stone-walled fort with outworks is situated on a rocky hilltop. The fort is aligned NE and SW and measures about 37 by 16m within a wall that follows the irregular outlines of the summit area. The wall varied in thickness from 4.5m on the NW to 1.5m on the S. Much of the interior is occupied by a rocky spine, which is surmounted by a modern cairn. A number of modern structures have been built within the fort for use as a film-set. In addition there are a number of ruined foundations.

A heavy spread of stony debris immediately below the summit probably conceals an outwork on the NE half of the perimeter. Access to the shelves forming the lower S portion of the massif was barred by a second series of outworks on the NE half of the perimeter, best preserved on its S. In this area there are a number of rectangular structures, possibly Medieval/Post Medieval in date.

The recent find of an Early Historic gaming-board suggests that the fort may have been occupied during this period. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 180m from E to W by 180m transversely, to include the fort, outworks, shielings and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the use of these sites may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to provide information about later prehistoric architecture, society and organisation. The recent Early Historic find suggests that activity on this site may have been extended; this site is therefore the only site in the immediate vicinity of Loch Awe to have produced any evidence for secular Early Historic activity.

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.