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Castle Craig, fort SSW of Pairney

A Scheduled Monument in Strathallan, Perth and Kinross

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.2962 / 56°17'46"N

Longitude: -3.6568 / 3°39'24"W

OS Eastings: 297561

OS Northings: 712761

OS Grid: NN975127

Mapcode National: GBR 1Q.76FP

Mapcode Global: WH5PP.S0VL

Entry Name: Castle Craig, fort SSW of Pairney

Scheduled Date: 22 December 1978

Last Amended: 23 February 2001

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM4213

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort)

Location: Auchterarder

County: Perth and Kinross

Electoral Ward: Strathallan

Traditional County: Perthshire

Description

The monument comprises a fort of prehistoric date. The monument was first scheduled in 1978. It is being rescheduled in order to clarify the extent of the scheduled area.

The monument lies in rough grassland on Castle Craig, a large rocky knoll. It comprises a fort measuring approximately 280m N-S by about 170m E-W, defined on the S by the remains of two stone ramparts some 16m apart and measuring about 0.5m in height. The E, W and N boundaries of the fort are defined by the summits of the rocky slopes which make up the sides of the knoll. On the summit of the knoll, at the centre of the fort, is a stone-built enclosure measuring about 28m in diameter, defined by a spread of stones and boulders about 4m wide. Immediately to the N of the enclosure is a rock-cut ditch measuring about 25m long, 5m wide and about 1m deep. Immediately to the S of the enclosure are the remains of two ramparts and a rock-cut ditch. The steeply sloping area on the W side of the fort has been scheduled because rubbish from the occupation of forts such as this was often thrown over the sides and accumulates as areas of midden around the edge of the hill. The SE edge of the fort has been disturbed by recent quarrying. Forts of this type are characteristic of the Iron Age.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular with maximum dimensions of 287m NNW-SSE and 177m at the widest point E-W, , as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric defended settlement and economy.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the site as NN91SE 11.

References:

Sherriff, J. R. (1984) 'Excavations at Castle Craig, Auchterarder, 1978', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 114.

Aerial Photographs:

CUCAP (1942) PT 10952 NN91SE11.

RCAHMS (1979) PT 6575 NN91SE11.

RCAHMS (1979) PT 6577 NN91SE11.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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