Ancient Monuments

History on the Ground

This site is entirely user-supported. See how you can help.

Priestfield,palisaded homestead and ring ditches 350m ESE of

A Scheduled Monument in Arbroath East and Lunan, Angus

We don't have any photos of this monument yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

If Google Street View is available, the image is from the best available vantage point looking, if possible, towards the location of the monument. Where it is not available, the satellite view is shown instead.

Coordinates

Latitude: 56.6308 / 56°37'50"N

Longitude: -2.534 / 2°32'2"W

OS Eastings: 367337

OS Northings: 748900

OS Grid: NO673489

Mapcode National: GBR VW.R9GS

Mapcode Global: WH8RX.1LLM

Entry Name: Priestfield,palisaded homestead and ring ditches 350m ESE of

Scheduled Date: 9 May 1994

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM5978

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: palisaded settlement

Location: Inverkeilor

County: Angus

Electoral Ward: Arbroath East and Lunan

Traditional County: Angus

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a palisaded homestead and several ring ditch houses of prehistoric date represented by cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The site lies on level arable farmland at around 20m OD in an area rich in the remains of prehistoric domestic and economic activity. The palisaded homestead is defined by an oval palisade measuring some 35m in maximum diameter. The W part of the interior is occupied by a dense, dark circular cropmark some 15m in diameter which appears to represent the remains of a former timber roundhouse with its internal occupation deposits still surviving. Outside to the S of the enclosure is a broad annular cropmark representing the remains of a ring ditch house of similar dimensions to the structure inside the enclosure. Traces can be identified of a ring of post-holes inside this external ring ditch house.

A cluster of similar ring ditch houses around 10m to 15m in diameter lies to the S of those described above. These are associated with several linear cropmarks which may represent the remains of a contemporary field system. To the N of the enclosure are several fainter cropmarks which again appear to represent ring ditch houses.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around and between them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It has maximum dimensions of 225m NNW-SSE by 210m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of the nature and development of prehistoric settlement and economy in lowland Scotland. The monument provides an opportunity to examine the functional and chronological relationships between enclosed and unenclosed settlement at this period.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 64 NE 12.

References:

RCAHMS 1978, The archaeological sites and monuments of Lunan Valley, Montrose Basin, Angus District, Tayside Region, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series No 4 Edinburgh, No. 95 and 157.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Other nearby scheduled monuments

AncientMonuments.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact AncientMonuments.uk for any queries related to any individual ancient or schedued monument, planning permission related to scheduled monuments or the scheduling process itself.

AncientMonuments.uk is a Good Stuff website.