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Wag of Forse is a settlement of Iron Age or Early Historic date situated on Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock in Caithness, north-east Scotland. The monument lies approximately 800 metres west-south-west of Forse House, on geological foundations of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone deposited during the Middle Devonian period. Wag settlements represent a distinctive regional building tradition found across Caithness and Sutherland, characterised by partially subterranean structures with stone walls and roofing designed to withstand the exposed northern climate.
The settlement's position on the undifferentiated Middle Old Red Sandstone reflects the underlying landscape geology of the area, which would have shaped both construction possibilities and the character of settlement in this part of Caithness. The durable local sandstone and conglomerate would have provided accessible building materials for the inhabitants.
Wag of Forse is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland's reference SM2301, recognising its significance as evidence of prehistoric and early medieval settlement patterns in the far north of mainland Scotland.
Wag of Forse, settlement 800m WSW of Forse House is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2301. View the official record →
Wag of Forse is a settlement of Iron Age or Early Historic date situated on Middle Old Red Sandstone bedrock in Caithness, north-east Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2301.
Wag of Forse, settlement 800m WSW of Forse House 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 SM2301.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Latheronwheel House,promontory fort 1100m SE of (3.4 km), Latheronwheel House, long cairn 850m SE of (3.6 km), Latheronwheel House,chambered cairn 580m SE of (3.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Wag of Forse, settlement 800m WSW of Forse House'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.
Wag of Forse, settlement 800m WSW of Forse House stands on Middle Old Red Sandstone (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.