Description

The monument is the remains of a cairn or burial mound dating probably to the Bronze Age (between about 2000 BC and 800 BC). It is visible as a roughly circular, steep-sided mound, about 34m in diameter, standing 5m high, with a flat top. Limited excavation has demonstrated that the mound is artificial and composed of layers of soil with a stony rubble core. Some quarrying has taken place around the edges of the mound, particularly on the SE side. The burial mound is situated on top of Maryton Law, a prominent knoll within the local landscape, at around 95m above sea level. It has extensive views, particularly to the N and E across Montrose Basin. The monument was first scheduled in 1969, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, measuring 50m in diameter, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to knowledge and understanding of the past, particularly the design and construction of burial monuments, and the nature of belief systems and burial practices during the Bronze Age in Angus. Ritual and funerary monuments are important for enhancing our understanding of Bronze Age society, its organisation, economy, religion and demography. Despite some previous disturbance, this cairn survives to a significant degree, allowing us to interpret its form, function and position in the landscape. It retains high potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains, including burials, artefacts and palaeoenvironmental evidence. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand funerary practice, death and burial in prehistoric times, and the placing of such monuments within the landscape.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Other Information

RCAHMS records the monument as NO65NE 19. The Angus Sites and Monuments Record records the monument as NO65NE0019.

References

Dalland, M and Carter, S 1998, 'The evaluation of a prehistoric mound damaged by rabbit burrowing at Maryton Law, Angus', TAFAJ 4, 20-30.

Dalland, M 1996, 'Maryton Law (Maryton parish), prehistoric mound', DES, 13.

OSA 1791-9, The statistical account of Scotland, drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes, in Sinclair, J (Sir), 9, 405.

RCAHMS 1978, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Lunan Valley, Montrose Basin, Angus District, Tayside Region, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 4, Edinburgh, no 249, 30.

Warden, A J 1880-5, Angus or Forfarshire: the land and people, descriptive and historical, 5v, Dundee, 4, 303.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/35670/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland