Scheduled Monument

Cardean Roman Camp and pre-historic barrow, Wester CardeanSM4337

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
21/05/1963
Last Date Amended
28/07/2015
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: barrow, Roman: camp
Local Authority
Angus
Parish
Airlie
NGR
NO 29868 46220
Coordinates
329868, 746220

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a Roman temporary camp, dating possibly to the Severan campaign of AD 208-211, together with a ring-ditch, probably the remains of a prehistoric barrow. The archaeological features survive mainly as buried remains visible as cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs. Part of the SE side of the camp survives as an upstanding earthwork in Crow Wood and the probable barrow is visible on the ground as a low mound. The Roman camp is sub-rectangular in form, measuring around 830m from NE to SW by 650m transversely, enclosing an area of at least 54ha (133 acres). The cropmarks identify three sides of the camp and two of the original six tituli (external protection for the gateway): one at the centre of the SE side, and another at the southern end of the SW side of the camp. The NE side of the camp is unclear from the air, but has been identified in trial trenches. The ring-ditch is located within the NW quadrant of the camp. It has an internal diameter of 20m and is visible on the ground as the ploughed remains of a mound which stands up to 1m high. The camp is located just N of Dean Water and S of the River Isla on relatively level terrain at about 60m above sea level. Most of the fields which it occupies are currently in cultivation, while the SW quadrant lies mainly in woodland. The monument was first scheduled in 1963, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present amendment rectifies this. The scheduled area is irregular 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 scheduled area specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences, hedges, drystone dykes and telegraph poles, and the top 300mm of road surfaces and drains, to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of the past, in particular, the construction, organisation, use and role of Roman temporary camps. Its importance is enhanced because of its close proximity to the Roman fort at Cardean, and because a stretch of the camp's bank and ditch survives as an upstanding earthwork, which is very rare. There is good potential for the presence of important buried remains in the fills of the defensive ditches defining the camp perimeter, including organic remains and artefactual evidence. Within the camp, there is high potential for the survival of occupation evidence in the form of rubbish pits, latrine pits, bread ovens and other features which can add to our understanding of the lives of Roman soldiers in the field. Organic evidence from the ditch fills could provide information about land-use and the environment at the time of the camp's construction. This camp is part of a network of Roman camps, forts and roads; spatial analysis of these sites can inform our understanding of Roman military strategy in Scotland and offer insights into the impact of Roman occupation on the local Iron Age landscape. The loss of the monument would diminish our understanding of the construction and use of temporary camps by the Roman army, our knowledge of Roman period military structures, economy and social practice, and our understanding of the relationship between the Romans and the native inhabitants.

References

Bibliography

Other Information

The monument is recorded by NMRS as NO24 NE15 and 29. Original scheduling file no. SC 23262/1B

Aerial photographs used:

1. RCAHMS (1977) AN/3350 NO24NE15

2. RCAHMS (1981) AN/4759 NO24NE15

3. RCAHMS (1981) AN/4763 NO24NE15

4. RCAHMS (1982) AN/5565 NO24NE15

5. CUCAP (1958) AN/3634/po NO24NE15

6. CUCAP (1969) A35681/po NO24NE15

References

Jones, R H 2011, Roman Camps in Scotland, Edinburgh, 158-159.

St Joseph, J K 1955, 'Air reconnaissance in Britain, 1951-5', Jour Roman Stud XLV, 82-91.

St Joseph, J K 1973, 'Air reconnaissance in Britain, 1969-72', Jour Roman Stud LXIII, 214-46.

HER/SMR Reference

  • Angus SMR NO24NE0015

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check Canmore for images relating to Cardean Roman Camp and pre-historic barrow, Wester Cardean

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 18/05/2024 16:00