Scheduled MonumentsScotlandMote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn
Palisaded settlement and cairn

Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn

Scotland
HES SM1907
Site type
Palisaded settlement and cairn
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Mote Hill is a palisaded settlement and cairn located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, representing evidence of prehistoric occupation and fortification in the region. The site comprises both defensive earthwork elements characteristic of palisaded settlements and a cairn structure, indicating multiple phases of use or construction across different periods. Such sites demonstrate the evolution of settlement patterns and defensive strategies employed by early communities in north-east Scotland, with the palisade work suggesting a concern for security and the cairn indicating ritual or commemorative activity. The monument is recorded in the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) INSPIRE database under reference SM1907, marking its significance within the archaeological record of Aberdeenshire.

Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1907. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn?

Mote Hill is a palisaded settlement and cairn located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, representing evidence of prehistoric occupation and fortification in the region. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1907.

Who is responsible for protecting Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn?

Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn 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 SM1907.

What other scheduled monuments are near Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including St Machar's Cathedral and graveyard (0.3 km), Lang Stane,standing stone,Hilton Drive (1.5 km), Balnagask motte, Baxter Place, Aberdeen (4.3 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Mote Hill, palisaded settlement and cairn