Description

The monument is a motte of medieval date. It was first scheduled in 1959, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains; the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The monument is located in an area of public ground at a height of around 500m OD. It comprises an earthen mound measuring approximately 30m in diameter at its base, and upstanding to a height of about 4m. The northern half of the summit of the mound was excavated in 1958, and the surrounding ditch was located and two sections dug across it, the latter revealed pottery of 12th- or 13th-century date. In the early half of the 20th century the motte was landscaped for recreational use, with a path and brick steps being inserted into the mound. Despite this disturbance, it is likely that the summit of the mound and the buried remains of the enclosure ditch will remain informative, as will the contemporary ground surface beneath the mound.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. The area is oval extending 10m out from the foot of the motte but defined to the S and E by the adjacent walls. The area measures approximately 45m NS by approximately 37m EW and is 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 contribute to an understanding of defended settlement sites in the medieval period. It is also a striking field monument.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NS87SE 1

References:

RCAHMS 1963, STIRLINGSHIRE: AN INVENTORY OF THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS, 2V, Edinburgh: RCAHMS, 173.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland