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

  SM11394_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013951)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a fort of prehistoric date, visible as slight field remains and cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs. It is situated at the summit of the Hill of Christ's Kirk, 311m above sea level, and lies 750m north east of the remains of Christ's Kirk.

Overall the monument appears to consist of a complete sub-circular enclosure about 45m in diameter, defined by a palisade ditch, surrounded by three other palisade ditches, all of which are intermittently visible. The sub-circular ditch is well defined and where visible on the ground appears as a shallow ditch 0.25m deep. To the west of the enclosure is a 15m-long arc of palisade ditch, which may form part of another circuit. Beyond it are two oval palisades, about 10m apart, the outermost defining an area about 120m by 85m.

The lack of definition to the outer ditches and their abrupt end on the western slope has led to the suggestion that the sub-circular ditch is a possible earlier homestead and that the outer ditches are marker trenches for the layout of a hillfort that was never completed. Forts of this type are characteristic of the Iron Age. However, it is possible that the outer ditches are contemporary with the inner sub-circular ditch and that together they comprised a defended hill-top settlement with at least three palisades. This type of structure could be dated to the Bronze Age.

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 subcircular, measuring a maximum of 158 E-W by 135m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument's historical significance can be expressed under two headings:

Intrinsic characteristics: the monument is unexcavated and has considerable potential to enhance understanding of defended hilltop settlements in the Strathdon area.

Contextual characteristics: whether a palisaded enclosure or an unfinished hillfort the site is a rare example of a type known throughout Scotland and adds great value to hill top settlements in the region. It lies within a rich prehistoric landscape and is situated between to other defended prehistoric hilltops, the Hill of Dunnideer hillfort, 1.3km to the north-east, and the hill-top enclosure on the Hill of Newleslie, 2.75m to the south-west. This setting is integral to the understanding of the monument in its landscape.

National Importance: this monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of defended hill-top enclosures and settlements of the prehistoric period in North-East Scotland. The loss or damage of this monument would significantly diminish the capacity of the class to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric Scotland as well as the surrounding landscape.

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.