Aerial cropmarks reveal a palisaded enclosure and large timber roundhouse whose buried plan survives despite the absence of standing walls.
Quick facts
- Date
- Later prehistoric period
- Architect / designer
- Prehistoric community unknown
- Type
- Cropmark palisaded enclosure and roundhouse
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM10980)
- OS grid reference
- NO 53168 99099
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
A circular palisade about twenty-six metres across encloses the ring of a timber house roughly seventeen metres in diameter. Both appear to share an east-facing entrance, with pits and lines nearby.
Its story
Later prehistoric inhabitants built a substantial wooden house inside a defended or bounded enclosure. Repeated activity may account for other cropmarks, though not every feature need belong to one phase.
Why it is included
Scheduling recognises a comparatively uncommon north-east palisaded settlement with strong potential to recover evidence for buildings, economy and occupation from buried deposits.
What to notice
- The field setting rather than visible masonry.
- Seasonal crop differences only from lawful viewpoints.
- The wider relationship to Aboyne Castle policies and river terraces.
Reading the surroundings
Do not enter crops, fields or farm tracks without permission. Never dig, metal detect or use drones without all required landowner and aviation permissions; the archaeology is mainly below ground.
Timeline
- Later prehistoric period A timber roundhouse stood inside a circular palisaded enclosure.
- Later phases Additional pits and linear features may record repeated activity nearby.
- 2003 National scheduling protected the cropmark complex and buried evidence.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Cropmarks do not prove that every nearby feature is contemporary, and excavation would be needed to establish an exact date and sequence.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Heogan Palisaded Enclosure, SM10980 — Current designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: SM10980 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
Location
OS grid reference NO 53168 99099 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; the public text separately states access and any current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.