Scheduled Monument

Ascoile, earthwork 890m SE ofSM3288

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
20/07/1973
Last Date Amended
23/03/2005
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: henge
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Clyne
NGR
NC 83091 10582
Coordinates
283091, 910582

Description

The monument is a roughly circular enclosure defined by a bank and external ditch, interpreted as a late Neolithic henge monument. The monument was first scheduled in 1973 and is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the area scheduled.

The bank is about 2m across. The ditch is about 2m across. It surrounds a raised area, c.8m across, with 4 visible earthfast stones. A few stones are visible through the turf covering the bank. A minor road has been built over the N half of the enclosure. There are no signs of the remains of the monument on the other side of the road.

The area to be scheduled is half of a 50m diameter circle, bounded by the road, to include the earthwork and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a probable late Neolithic henge monument, which has considerable potential to enhance our understanding of prehistoric ritual and religious practices. The monument is of particular importance as henges are rare in northern Scotland.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NC81SW4.

References:

Davidson J M 1948, 'A miscellany of antiquities in Easter Ross and Sutherland', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 80, 33.

Harding A F and Lee G E 1987, HENGE MONUMENTS AND RELATED SITES OF GREAT BRITAIN: AIR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE AND CATALOGUE, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 175, Oxford, 363-4, No. 264.

Wainwright G J 1969, 'A review of henge monuments in the light of recent research', Proc Prehist Soc, New 35, 129.

Woodham A A 1960, 'Greeanan', DISCOVERY EXCAV SCOT 1960, 39-40.

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

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Printed: 18/04/2024 19:34