Description

The monument comprises a small fortified enclosure of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding remains. The site occupies the summit of Kay Craig, on the precipitous W side of the Pairney Burn, at a height of 112m OD.

The fortified enclosure is roughly circular in shape and about 10m in diameter. It is enclosed on three sides by a drystone wall, which is well-defined on the S and W sides but disturbed on the N; there is no wall on the steep E side. The wall incorporates some natural rock outcrops and stands in places up to seven courses (0.8m) high and up to 2.5m thick. Some 15m to the S there is a W-E alignment of seven large boulders (1-1.5m in size), which may indicate the remains of an outer wall. There are no visible traces of features within the enclosure, where bedrock outcrops here and there.

The area to be scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It comprises a circular area, 30m in diameter, which is truncated by the cliff edge. The area to be scheduled is marked in red on the accompanying map. The modern fence boundary which runs down the cliff edge to the E of the monument is specifically excluded from the scheduling.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy, in particular with reference to fortified settlements. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NN 91 SE 17.

Bibliography:

Sherriff, J. (1979) 'Kay Craig (Auchterarder p) enclosure', Discovery Excavation, Scotland, 44.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland