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

  Legal Documents for Inverquharity, Roman fort, Roman camp and souterrain 400m NNE of (SM6452)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002356)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a Roman fort, a Roman temporary camp and an Iron Age settlement. The fort and camp were constructed during the 1st century AD Roman campaigns in Scotland. The archaeological remains survive as buried features which are visible on aerial photographs and have also been located through geophysical survey. The cropmarks identify the east, south and west sides of the fort and camp, but they have been truncated on their north sides by the erosion of the steep scarp above the Prosen Water. The monument is located at the higher northwest end of a plateau overlooking the confluence of the Prosen Water and River South Esk at the mouth of Glen Clova.

The fort measures approximately 70m from northwest to southeast and 65m transversely. There is a single entrance facing the southwest. The temporary camp, located 80m to the southeast of the fort, measures approximately 150m east northeast to west southwest and 136m transversely. There are 'Stracathro'- type entrances, a specific type of Roman defensive feature associated with some camps, recorded on the three known sides. Excavations recorded that the V-shaped ditch on the east side of the camp measured approximately 1.8m in width and 0.9m in depth. The Iron Age settlement consists of a number of features within the monument which are likely to be the archaeological remains of roundhouses and a souterrain or sunken storage feature.

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 are expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The monument was first scheduled in 1996, but the documents do not meet current standards; the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its significant potential to contribute to our understanding of Roman forts, temporary camps and Iron Age settlements including their construction, use and role. Aerial photographs indicate survival of a diverse complex of buried remains including key structural features of the fort and camp such as Stratcathro-type entrances, as well as features of Iron Age settlement. Inverquharity is one of  the most northerly examples of its type and spatial analysis of Roman forts and temporary camps may inform our understanding of Roman military strategy and the relationship between the Roman Army and the local Iron Age population. If this monument were lost or damaged our understanding of the construction and use of forts and camps by the Roman army, its interactions with local populations and our knowledge of Roman military structure and logistics would be greatly diminished.

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.