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

  SM11042_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013850)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fortified enclosure, measuring about 30m by 50m, occupying the greater part of a steep-sided hillock, situated in dense woodland, overlooking the Glen Burn.

The enclosure is delineated by a well-defined ditch about 5m wide and up to 2m deep (when measured against the inner, uphill edge); the ditch lies slightly downhill of the flat top of the knoll. The area enclosed measures about 30x50m although both ends have been scarred by 19th-century quarrying. The enclosure occupies the eastern part of the knoll - to the east it falls away steeply to the floor of the valley; to the west, the ditch cuts the defended area off from the rest of the flat top of the knoll. There appears to be a very clear entrance to the WSW. The enclosure is most likely a prehistoric fort, but it may be a medieval motte. Whichever it is, its size and very prominent position in the landscape (currently disguised by the dense tree cover) mark it out as a high status settlement.

The area to be scheduled is irregular, measuring a maximum of about 80m E-W by about 60m N-S, to enclose the visible remains and an area around them within which related features may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a striking example of a prehistoric, or less likely, medieval fortified site, occupying a very prominent position. It has the potentail to enhance considerably our understanding of high status defended sites and, consequently, to improve our understanding of social structures.

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.