Scheduled Monument

Prail Castle,fortSM5587

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
08/02/1993
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill fort and promontory fort)
Local Authority
Angus
Parish
Inverkeilor
NGR
NO 69681 46437
Coordinates
369681, 746437

Description

The monument consists of a promontory fort of the Iron Age, about 2000 years old.

A long, narrow, promontory is defended by multiple ramparts and ditches. The inner rampart sits on top of a low scarp and survives to a height of about 1.0m. Between the scarp and a modern field dyke to the W are a number of further defences. N of a central approach causeway are remains of two ditches and a rampart, while S of the causeway are three ditches and two ramparts, the ditches made at least partly by modifying natural gullies.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape and measures 140m NW-SE by 100m transversely. It is bounded by a field dyke on the W and elsewhere by coastal cliffs: the field dyke is specifically excluded from scheduling. The area to be scheduled is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an Iron Age promontory fort which, taken together with a number of other forts on the Angus coast, has the potential to considerably enhance our understanding of Iron Age settlement in the area.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO64NE 7.

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 Prail Castle,fort

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 03/05/2024 05:24