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

  SM12_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002970)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a recumbent stone circle, surrounding a well-defined central cairn, visible as a series of upstanding and prostrate stones. The monument was last scheduled in 1970. It is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the scheduled area. Stone settings of this type are characteristic of the Neolithic (Stone Age).

The monument is situated within a small enclosure on the summit of Candle Hill, at an altitude of c.267m OD. It lies immediately E of an abandoned quarry. Recent quarrying to the E of the site exposed a section which revealed post-holes with charcoal-stained fills. Between this section and the stone circle, an area had been stripped of topsoil in advance of further quarrying.

The recumbent stone circle measures c.14m in diameter. It surrounds a well-defined central cairn, measuring c.8.5m in diameter by 1m high. The stone circle originally consisted of eight upright stones, one of which has now gone. Only one stone is still standing, named the Candle Stane, which is 1.4m high. The recumbent stone measures c.4.2m long by 2m broad by 0.5m thick, and is situated on the southern arc of the circle, flanked between two fallen flanker stones. The western flanker is c.2.75m long and the eastern flanker c.2m long. The other stones vary from 1.8m to 2.65m long. All of the stones, except the Candle Stane, have been displaced. There are two possible cup marks on the eastern flanker and two further indistinct examples on the westernmost stone.

Excavations undertaken to the SW of the recumbent stone circle revealed the remains of a large circular timber structure, less than half of which survived because the area had suffered extensive damage from quarrying. A series of eight evenly spaced post-holes was identified within the circular groove, and an arc of six further post-holes was interpreted as part of a former inner ring. A complex entrance structure was present on the SE arc. Charcoal from the post-holes was radiocarbon dated to the first millennium BC. Internal features included a large stone-filled pit and a suite of stake-holes located towards the centre of the structure. No artefacts were recovered.

This juxtaposition of a recumbent stone circle with timber structures indicates the re-use of an earlier (ritual) site by later settlement.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is c.55m N-S by 31m E-W, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The area is bounded by a field wall to the E and a quarry wall to the W, both of which are excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric 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.