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

  SM5876_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011773)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a promontory fort of later prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument occupies a naturally well-defended, steep-sided, inland promontory above a meander of the Ogle Burn. It comprises a series of defences set across the relatively flat W approach to the promontory, effectively enclosing the flat summit. The innermost defences comprise two lines of ditch, each approximately 3m wide and some 9m apart, which are joined by a transverse ditch at their N end.

There are several possible breaks in the ditches but none unambiguously represents the remains of an entrance. External to these ditches is a narrow ditch or palisade, approximately 1m wide. Beyond this is what appears to be an exceptionally wide ditch, approximately 8-9m wide which extends parallel to the inner defences from the S for approximately one third of their length. This feature has a clear N terminal and did not form part of a complete line of defence.

It is possible that, rather than a ditch, it represents the remains of dense occupation deposits associated with an external, rectilinear structure. The interior summit of the fort measures approximately 100m E-W by 40m and has no unambiguous traces of internal features.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 140m E-W by 50m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of high-status defended settlement of the later prehistoric period. The ditches may be expected to contain material relating to rampart construction as well as to the environment and economy of the site. There is a strong probability that internal deposits will provide detailed information on domestic organisation within the fort.

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.