Scheduled Monument

Ratch-hill, settlement, field system & enclosures S and SE ofSM6448

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
27/09/1996
Supplementary Information Updated
27/06/2018
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive, rather than ritual or funerary); field clearance cairn, cairnfield; field or field system; hut circle, roundhouse, Prehistoric ritual and funerary: henge
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Kintore
NGR
NJ 77475 16887
Coordinates
377475, 816887

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a later prehistoric settlement. The settlement has at least 6 circular house stances, with a system of field banks and field clearance cairns around. There are also the remains of two enclosures. One of these may be a small henge, a ceremonial site of an earlier period.

The area to be scheduled is in four parts, reflecting areas to be preserved from modern forestry. The first part, the farthest to the SW, is circular, measuring 35m in diameter. The second, to the N of the first, is irregular and measures a maximum of 85m WNW to ESE by 50m transversely.

The third, to the E of the second, is circular, measuring 35m in diameter. The fourth part is the largest. It lies E of the other three and is irregular on plan, measuring a maximum of 365m NNE to SSW by a maximum of 160m transversely. All four parts of the area are marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well preserved prehistoric settlement in an area where few such monuments have survived. It has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric settlement and agriculture in Aberdeenshire. The possible henge is of particular importance because of the rarity of such monuments in NE Scotland.

References

Bibliography

References:

Gibb, A. (1858) Map of the north-eastern districts of Aberdeenshire.

Ordinance Survey (1867) 'Aberdeenshire, Sheet LXIV, 6'

Ordinance Survey (1901) 'Aberdeenshire, Sheet LXIV, 6'

Robertson, J. (1822) Topographical and military map of the counties of Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine.

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to Ratch-hill, settlement, field system & enclosures S and SE of

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 10/04/2026 13:05