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

  SM3219_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600009322)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a hillfort, dating probably to the Iron Age (between about 800 BC and 500 AD). It comprises a single rampart and ditch enclosing a sub-oval area of 6.6ha on the summit of Kinpurney Hill. The rampart and ditch are visible for most of the circuit, except on the S side where there is a natural steep slope, and in the W where there is a break for the single entrance. The rampart stands up to 2m high maximum, but is generally much lower, and the ditch is visible as a narrow terrace. A roofless tower, built in 1774 and used as an observatory, stands within the fort interior. The monument is situated on top of Kinpurney Hill, which forms part of the Sidlaw Hills, at around 345m above sea level. The site has extensive views in all directions and is prominent in the surrounding landscape. The monument was first scheduled in 1972, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is roughly oval 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 is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of the Ordnance Survey trig point, the modern stone viewing point and the wooden fence surrounding the viewing point. The scheduling specifically includes the remains of the 18th-century observatory tower.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our knowledge and understanding of later prehistoric settlement in Scotland, specifically defensive sites. In addition to the visible remains of the rampart and ditch, the site has good potential to preserve important buried deposits, features and structures relating to its construction and use, which could enhance our understanding of Iron Age settlement, society and economy. The site is of particular interest as a possibly unfinished fort, which means that it could provide a rare insight into the construction of hillforts. The monument also offers high potential to compare different settlement types, particularly in contrast to the much more common types of prehistoric settlement on lower-lying agricultural land in Angus, which are normally now visible only as cropmarks. The presence of the 18th-century observatory tower on the hilltop adds an interesting facet to the history of the site. Our understanding of the date, distribution and character of later prehistoric settlements in eastern Scotland would be diminished if this monument was to be 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.