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

  SM6527_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012413)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a Neolithic mortuary enclosure, probably in use between 4000 BC and 3000 BC; a prehistoric circular enclosure; and a curved ditch resembling an Iron Age souterrain, dating probably from 250 BC to AD 400. These features are buried below the plough soil, but are visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The mortuary enclosure is trapezoidal in plan with gently rounded ends. It is bounded by a ditch 1.5m-2.7m wide that defines an area measuring about 47m ENE-WSW by 20m transversely at the W end, tapering to 16m towards the E end. There are gaps at both ends set slightly off-centre. The circular enclosure lies about 70m to the SSE and defines an area measuring 18.5m in diameter. The curved ditch lies between the two enclosures and is about 35m long and 3m wide. The monument lies at 65m OD on the shoulder of a broad hill, with extensive views S across the River Tay to N Fife, as well as views to the W and N. The monument was first scheduled in 1996, but the scheduled area did not include all the archaeological remains: the present amendment rectifies this.

The area to be scheduled 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 may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of early prehistoric ritual monuments in Scotland. It includes a mortuary enclosure with distinctive characteristics, including its trapezoidal plan and gently curving ends. It is likely that deposits survive in the ditches that can enhance our understanding of the use and chronology of such features. The monument is particularly important because the mortuary enclosure is accompanied by a circular enclosure and a possible souterrain that can provide evidence for prehistoric occupation of this site over an extended period. The monument would have formed an important and prominent part of the prehistoric landscape, with the mortuary enclosure potentially influencing later activity for several centuries. Our understanding of the distribution and character of early prehistoric ritual monuments in Scotland would be diminished if this monument were 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.