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Latitude: 56.2442 / 56°14'38"N
Longitude: -4.1809 / 4°10'51"W
OS Eastings: 264944
OS Northings: 707876
OS Grid: NN649078
Mapcode National: GBR 12.BGPX
Mapcode Global: WH4NH.R98Z
Entry Name: Auchenlaich, fort 650m NNE of
Scheduled Date: 26 November 2003
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Source ID: SM6965
Schedule Class: Cultural
Category: Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill and promontory fort)
Location: Callander
County: Stirling
Electoral Ward: Trossachs and Teith
Traditional County: Perthshire
The monument comprises the remains of a prehistoric fort, visible as upstanding earthworks. Forts such as this are characteristic of the earlier part of the pre-Roman Iron Age (c.500-250BC).
The monument lies between 120m and 130m OD, on the summit of a narrow hill overlooking the valley of the Keltie Water and its confluence with the River Teith to the south. The fort is oval in plan, following the natural form of the hilltop, and measures about 90m NW-SE by about 60m transversely. It is defined by a single rampart, which is at its most substantial at the entrances to the site in the NW and SE.
In the NW, the ramparts reach a height of 3.5m where they flank the entrance. At the SE entrance, the ramparts are lower at about 1.5m, and along the sides of the monument the rampart is reduced at some points to a very low scarp. Steep slopes to the NE and SW of the fort may have reduced the necessity for substantial artificial defences along these sides. The natural form of the hill means that the interior of the fort is over 10m higher than the top of the rampart in places. Traces of an external ditch have been recorded around the entrances, but no interior features are visible.
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 in shape, measuring a maximum of 130m NW-SE by 95m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. A water tank situated c.5m to the E of the fort's SE entrance is specifically excluded from the scheduling.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric defensive settlement and economy. The unusual layout of this fort, with the interior so much higher than the ramparts in places, could have particular relevance for the debate on whether such monuments were primarily defensive sites or ostentatious symbols of power.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Bibliography
RCAHMS as records the monument as NN 60 NW 10.
Source: Historic Environment Scotland
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