Scheduled MonumentsScotlandMaiden Castle, fort
Iron Age · Fort

Maiden Castle, fort

Scotland
HES SM813
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Fort
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Maiden Castle is a multivallate Iron Age fort situated in Fife, Scotland. The site is defended by multiple concentric ramparts and ditches characteristic of later Iron Age hillfort construction, likely dating to the last few centuries before the Roman conquest of southern Britain. Its strategic location and substantial earthwork defences suggest it served as a significant territorial stronghold during the Iron Age period. The monument remains a notable example of prehistoric military architecture in the Scottish landscape, though detailed occupation history and specific dating evidence for this particular site remain limited in the published archaeological record.

Maiden Castle, fort is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM813. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Maiden Castle, fort?

Maiden Castle is a multivallate Iron Age fort situated in Fife, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM813.

What period does Maiden Castle, fort date from?

Maiden Castle, fort dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a fort. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Maiden Castle, fort?

Maiden Castle, fort 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 SM813.

What other scheduled monuments are near Maiden Castle, fort?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Balharvie Moss,cross-incised stone 420m NNE of Miller's Loch (0.8 km), Chancefield Wood earthworks, SE of Chancefield (1.6 km), East Lomond Hill, fort and cairn (2.3 km).

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