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

  SM6285_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012174)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of an Iron Age hillfort situated on a knoll on the S slope of Grennan Hill, about 250m from the summit.

The fort is oval on plan. The inner area is 46m E-W by 24m. This is enclosed by a deep ditch on the N and W and by very steep slopes elsewhere: almost vertical on the E side. The ditch is up to 11.5m wide and 3.5m deep. Outside it is a bank up to 0.8m high. The ditch has a low internal rampart on the W side. Neither ditch nor rampart is continued on the E side, where the vertical rock face appears to have been adequate defence, nor is the ditch very pronounced on the S side.

The entrance has been on the NE side, entering the fort at a diagonal angle to the ditch and bank. Two level areas about 5m in diameter within the interior may be the sites of circular houses contemporary with the fort. The area to be scheduled is approximately oval, measuring a maximum of 95m NW-SE by 70m, to include the fort and its outer defences, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a small Iron Age hillfort, which well illustrates the use of natural topography to minimise necessary defensive works. It has the potential, through excavation and analysis, to provide important information about prehistoric defensive architecture and domestic economy.

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.