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

  SM11535_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014014)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a ring ditch and three pit circles visible as a series of cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs that are interpreted as the remains of a prehistoric settlement. It is located on the coastal plain between 30-40m above sea level, within 1km of the southern shore of the Moray Firth and to the east of Inverness. The cropmarks are in arable farmland.

The cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of the monument represent negative or buried archaeological features that retain different levels of moisture than the surrounding subsoil resulting in the variant growth of the crops above. These show a ring ditch that is penannular in shape and measures about 6m in diameter within a ditch 1m wide and with a gap 2m wide on the SE side. The southernmost of the pit circles has a double line of pits; the middle circle has a less coherent form with an additional group of pits in its southern half and, in the northernmost circle, the pits appear as smaller features. In all three, the internal diameter of these features is about 12-15m.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises two discrete areas, one circular on plan and the other rectilinear, to include the remains described above and an area around in which related material may be expected to be found, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics

The monument is unexcavated and has considerable potential to enhance understanding of unenclosed settlements of the prehistoric period in N Scotland. In particular, the monument may contribute to our understanding of the construction of prehistoric dwellings. The presence of both ring ditch and pit circles in close proximity may provide information on the planning and development of prehistoric settlements. Additionally, the presence of a double line of pits on one of the circles suggests there may have been more than one phase of building. As such, the monument may provide information on the duration of use of prehistoric settlements.

Contextual characteristics

The monument is a good example of an unenclosed settlement, similar in character to others found along the coast of the Moray Firth. As a group, these sites could help enhance our understanding of the utilisation of the prehistoric landscape.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of the past, in particular, prehistoric settlement and economy. Its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date increases its importance. The loss of, or damage to the monument would diminish the capacity of the class to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and land use in N Scotland.

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.