Description

The monument comprises the remains of a cursus monument, a ring-ditch or pit circle, the site of a large burial mound, and the remains of an Iron Age settlement. They are situated on arable land at about 45m OD, mostly visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs.

The cursus monument - a linear monument of the Neolithic period - comprises two irregular ditches spaced between 100m and 140m apart, forming a long enclosure running from south to north. The visible southern end overlooks the River Earn. The monument is visible at the north only to the Broich Road, although it probably continues further. About 140m along the western ditch, from the southernmost visible point, there is a 15-20m gap; in the gap there is a small ring-ditch or pit circle.

The large prehistoric burial mound known as the Stayt of Crieff was located within the enclosed area of the cursus, at the northern edge of the area to be scheduled. Although it was removed in 1860 it is likely that some features of the mound still survive.

The western half of a palisaded settlement enclosure overlies the southern end of the cursus. It contains within it a sunken-floored house. Half of the house and palisade have been destroyed by quarrying.

The area to be scheduled measures about 600m from its northernmost to its southernmost point, and about 300m from its easternmost to its westernmost points, to include the visible features and an area around and between them in which features associated with the construction and use of the monument may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments with a later prehistoric settlement overlying them. The monument is of particular importance because of the unique occurrence of a ring-ditch of pit circle on the line of the ditch, apparently in a gap specially left for it. The occurrence of a Bronze Age burial mound (the Stayt of Crieff) within the enclosed area is also rare. The location of the Iron Age settlement may be fortuitous, but it has been suggested that this sort of activity may represent the deliberate later re-use of areas important in prehistory.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NN 82 SE 14, 68 and 69.

References:

Headrick, M. (1914) The 'Stayt' of Creiff ' A Bronze-Age burial site', Proc Scot Antiq Scot, vol. 48, 365-9.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland