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

  SM7948_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013273)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a standing stone, enclosure and ring ditch of prehistoric date. The enclosure and ring ditch are visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies in arable farmland at around 30m OD. It consists of three elements; a massive standing stone, an enclosure and a ring ditch. The standing stone, measuring about 2m high, stands within an enclosure measuring about 22m in diameter and defined by a ditch measuring about 2m wide.

There is a gap in the ditch on the S of the enclosure, immediately inside which the stone is situated. Some 40m to the NNE of the enclosure is a ring ditch with a diameter of about 8m. The ditch itself measures about 2m in width, and has a gap at the NNW. The standing stone probably relates to ritual activity of Neolithic date.

Monuments of this kind can indicate the presence of evidence for ritual practice over a protracted period, of which the stone is only the most visible remnant. The enclosure is probably associated with the standing stone, which together may represent the remains of a henge, other examples of which have been excavated nearby.

Henges were used as ritual sites between 4000-5000 years ago. The central areas often contained burials and circles of stones or timber posts. Ring-ditches have been found on excavation to represent the remains of timber roundhouses of later prehistoric date.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular, with maximum dimensions of 110m from its N-most point to its S-most point and 100m from its E-most point to its W-most point, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement, economy and ritual practices. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

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.