Description

The monument comprises a fort dating to the later prehistoric period, visible as an upstanding earthwork and ditch, situated in rough pasture on the summit of a cone shaped hill known as Cnoc Cailliche.

The fort is oval, measuring 55m from NE-SW by 29m transversely, defined by a shallow ditch measuring about 4m wide and 1m deep, with a stony bank on its inner edge. A counterscarp bank is visible around the outer ditch edge of the ditch. A gap 3m wide in the ditch and bank on the NE marks the probable entrance to the fort. The site commands wide views over the surrounding landscape, especially to the E.

The area to be scheduled is roughly oval in plan, to include the visible remains of the fort and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

Cultural Significance

The monument's cultural significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is a well-preserved example of its type, a relatively small enclosure defended by ramparts and ditches. It is unexcavated and therefore has the potential to provide high quality archaeological evidence on the structure and function of later prehistoric forts.

Contextual characteristics: The site is a good example of a type known throughout eastern and southern Scotland and typical of later prehistoric forts in NE Scotland. Built to have wide views over the surrounding landscape, an appreciation of its setting is integral to this understanding the monument in the landscape. There is a great disparity in the character and distribution of forms in Strath Don, and it is important to be able to understand the relationship between the various forts and their builders here, as well as with the rest of Scotland.

Associative characteristics: The monument is the product of the later prehistoric peoples in Scotland and demonstrates the settlement types and defensive techniques used by them in eastern and southern Scotland.

National Importance: The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of the past, in particular the settlement pattern and defensive techniques of later prehistoric peoples in southern and eastern Scotland. Its relatively good preservation enhances this potential. The loss of this example would affect our ability to understand the later prehistoric period in Scotland.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS record this site as NJ42NE 5. It is recorded in the Aberdeenshire SMR as NJ42NE0005.

References:

Jervise A 1871, 'Notes respecting the castle of Craig and the old kirk of Auchindoir, &c., in Aberdeenshire', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 8, 327.

ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOK (COUNTY), Original Name Books of the Ordnance Survey Book No. 6, 47-8.

Proc Soct Antiq Scot 1974, 'Donations to and purchases for the Museum and Library', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 104, 316.

Shepherd I A G 1986, EXPLORING SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE: GRAMPIAN, Exploring Scotland's heritage series, Edinburgh, 138, No. 77.

Simpson W D 1930, 'Craig Castle and the Kirk of Auchindoir, Aberdeenshire', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 64, 53.

Simpson W D 1932, 'Lesmoir Castle and the Church of Essie: with some further notes on Auchindoir', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT, 66, 99.

Ralston I, HILLFORT STUDY GROUP, ABERDEENSHIRE, APRIL 24-26 1981, Unpublished document.

Aerial photographs:

AB 4922 PO Oblique aerial view. 1978.

AB 4923 PO Oblique aerial view. 1978.

E 94486 PO Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont, taken from the W, centred on fort. 24.01.2000.

E 94488 PO Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont, taken from the NNE, centred on fort.

24.01.2000.

D 35653 Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the NE. 08.10.1998.

D 35654 Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the N. 08.10.1998.

D 35655 Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the WSW. 08.10.1998.

D 35656 Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the NE. 08.10.1998.

D 35657 Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the NW. 08.10.1998.

D 32962 CN Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the NNE. 08.10.1998.

D 32963 CN Oblique aerial view of Wheedlemont centred on the remains of a fort, taken from the NNE. 08.10.1998.

D 56688 CN Oblique aerial view centred on the remains of the fort with the remains of the cottage, huts and sheepfold adjacent, taken from the SSW.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland