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

  SM5981_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011876)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a multi-period later prehistoric settlement dating to between 1800 BC and AD 400. The settlement remains lie buried beneath the ploughsoil. They are visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs and have been partly revealed by archaeological excavation. The monument lies at about 25m above sea level on a broad spur of higher ground extending NE from Ironshill Farm to the S of the Lunan Water.

The settlement comprises two large roundhouses and a variety of other prehistoric features. One roundhouse lies towards the E of the scheduled area and is represented by two circles of postholes, the outer circle measuring about 17m in diameter. It is set within a circular palisade enclosing an area 45m in diameter. Trial excavation has demonstrated that a souterrain lies 30m to the NNW of the enclosure and the ring grooves of other houses lie to the SE. The cropmark evidence shows a rectilinear post-setting 60m to the S of the enclosure and a second large roundhouse 95m to the WNW, defined by a penannular gully bounded by a ring groove about 17m in diameter. Numerous other cropmarks in the same field probably represent associated structures and pits.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of a post-and-wire fence that crosses the scheduled area from NNW to SSE. The monument was first scheduled in 1994, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to knowledge and understanding of prehistoric rural settlement in Scotland. It preserves a rare combination of later prehistoric building types, including a souterrain and enclosed and unenclosed structures. It is also part of a cluster of later prehistoric sites around Ironshill and Newbarns that represents one of the most important in eastern Scotland. This gives the monument rich potential to contribute to study of the relationships between enclosed and unenclosed settlements and the changing character of prehistoric settlement over time. Our understanding of the distribution and character of later prehistoric settlements would be diminished if this monument was to be lost or damaged.

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.