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Gilrivie is an unenclosed settlement situated in Angus, Scotland, west-southwest of the village it takes its name from. The site comprises a cluster of domestic structures arranged without defensive fortifications, reflecting settlement patterns common in the Scottish Highlands and uplands during the Iron Age and early medieval periods. Such unenclosed settlements typically indicate communities whose security relied upon social rather than physical barriers, or whose pastoral economy made permanent fortification unnecessary.
The settlement rests upon bedrock of the Stratheden Group, formed during the Late Devonian period. This geology comprises interbedded sandstone and conglomerate, characteristic of the Old Red Sandstone succession that underlies much of eastern Scotland. The underlying solid geology would have influenced both the immediate landscape available for settlement and the building materials accessible to inhabitants, with local stone suitable for construction of the characteristic stone-built dwellings associated with such sites.
Gilrivie is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6095, recognising its importance as evidence of settlement, land use and social organisation in the Scottish landscape. The unenclosed nature of the settlement and its positioning within the Angus countryside contribute to understanding patterns of habitation and resource exploitation in the region during its occupation.
Gilrivie,unenclosed settlement WSW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6095. View the official record →
Gilrivie is an unenclosed settlement situated in Angus, Scotland, west-southwest of the village it takes its name from. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6095.
Gilrivie,unenclosed settlement WSW of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM6095.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Buckiemill,fort 450m SSE of (7.1 km), Hawkhill Quarry, ring ditches (7.6 km), Red Castle,Lunan Bay (8.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Gilrivie,unenclosed settlement WSW of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Gilrivie,unenclosed settlement WSW of stands on Stratheden Group, bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.