Scheduled MonumentsScotlandGlaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of
Ring-ditch

Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of

Scotland
HES SM5502
Site type
Ring-ditch
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Glaisnock ring-ditch is a prehistoric ceremonial monument located in Ayrshire, Scotland. The monument comprises a circular or oval ditch with an internal or external bank, a characteristic earthwork form dating from the Bronze Age or earlier periods. Such ring-ditches typically enclosed burial mounds or ritual spaces and serve as evidence of established settlement patterns and funerary practices in prehistoric Scotland. The site lies upon bedrock of the Scottish Coal Measures Group, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone layers with deposits of coal and ironstone formed during the Moscovian period. This geology would have been readily visible to prehistoric communities and may have influenced the location's significance or accessibility.

The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5502 as a scheduled monument, recognising its archaeological importance and rarity value. Ring-ditches of this type remain relatively scarce in the archaeological record, and their preservation allows investigation of Bronze Age settlement organisation and ceremonial practice across western Scotland. The earthwork's survival at Glaisnock demonstrates the value of protected status in maintaining evidence of Scotland's deep prehistory.

Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5502. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of?

Glaisnock ring-ditch is a prehistoric ceremonial monument located in Ayrshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5502.

Who is responsible for protecting Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of?

Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE 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 SM5502.

What other scheduled monuments are near Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Highpark,enclosure 250m NW of (3.8 km), Ayr Fort Gate, nos.2 and 2A Montgomerie Terrace, Ayr (4.1 km), Ayr Fort Wall (part), Ailsa Place, Ayr (4.3 km).

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Stat Accounts
The parish Statistical Accounts of the 1790s and 1830s, describing life, work and population here.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
First month just £4.99, then £9.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of report
Or see a real report first
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of

Glaisnock,ring-ditch 140m SE of stands on Scottish Coal Measures Group, bedrock that formed in the Moscovian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, coal, ironstone and ferricrete.