Archaeological Procedure

for Rural Stewardship Scheme

1

INITIAL RESEARCH
Initial contact
with farmer

Local authority
archaeology
service

No local authority
archaeology
service

Consult SMR
(1)

Consult NMRS
(2)

Scheduled
Ancient
Monuments
recorded
(3)

Unscheduled
Archaeological Sites
recorded
(4)

Boundaries of
SAM
defined

Extent & Location

marked

No

Contact HS or
Local Authority
archaeologist for
map

No

Yes

Contact Local Authority

archaeologist for further
details

Part of farm listed in

Inventory of Garden &
Designed Landscapes
(5)

Boundaries &
specific features
defined?

Yes

No

Contact HS or
SNH

Visit farm to carry out

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

Listed building
identified or
curtilage of listed
building extends
into survey area
(6)

Archaeological Procedure for

Rural Stewardship Scheme
2

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
Consult with farmer before
carrying out
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
(7)

Archaeological
information does not
match description

Site not visible

(10)

Check data
especially for
cropmarks
(13)

Sites identified
as described in
SMR

Site more
extensive than
recorded
(11)

New site
(12)

Old orchard
site
identified
(8)

Contact SNH
to confirm

Consult farmer

Define full extent &

condition
(14)

Mark Archaeological Features

on

DESCRIPTIVE MAP
including appropriate
Buffer zones
(15)

Identify where
Management is
required

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

Mark
Dykes

Dykes
identified
(9)

Archaeological Procedure
for Rural Stewardship Scheme
3

SITE MANAGEMENT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL/HISTORIC
SITES
requiring Management
(16)
Identify appropriate
management

Protection covered
by the General Environmental
Conditions?
(17)

Positive management required

(18)
Unclear what action is
appropriate

Consult HS
for SAMs
(19)

Yes

Consult local authority

archaeologist for other sites
(20)

Discuss management
options with farmer
(20)
Gain necessary consents
& supporting documentation

HS consent for
SAMs
(22)

SNH/HS consent for

Designed Landscapes
(23)

Local authority archaeologist

support for archaeologically
sensitive/complex site
(24)

Complete MANAGEMENT PLAN

making sure farmer knows what
actions are required if application is
successful

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

SNH/HS agreement
for old dykes
(25)

Report new or altered sites

to SMR and notify them of
sites where management
has been approved
(26)

EXPLANATORY NOTES for FLOWCHARTS on ARCHAEOLOGICAL

PROCEDURES for the RSS

(1)

You should contact your local authority Sites & Monuments Record/ National
Monuments Record Scotland before a farm visit, as this will allow you to
include known archaeological features in any initial survey work. If unsure
whether a farm will enter the RSS you can check CANMORE or other data
source for information, but you will still need to get SMR information from your
local archaeologist or the NMRS.
Check the map and index in Section 2 of this Pack to find the appropriate
Archaeological Service provider for the area in which you are interested.
SEERAD require evidence that this information has been sought in compiling the
RSS Descriptive Map. Failure to have this information should lead to the farm
plan being rejected by SEERAD.
The preparation of Archaeological Sites & Monuments information for the RSS
can impose a heavy workload on the local authority or national source. To speed
up the flow of information agricultural advisers are recommended to give advance
warning of the anticipated number of requests for information. This will allow
staff-time to be targeted in advance and extra staff can be employed if required.
This should speed up the return of archaeological information to the
agricultural/conservation advisers
Requests for information must include
Map extract (1:10,000 preferred) with farm boundaries clearly marked.
If you can supply this in digital format to a council with a GIS database this
will speed up the delivery of information.
A north point and National Grid Reference marked on map to aid location
Farm name
In return you should receive
1:10,000 map extract outlining the extent & position of known archaeological
monuments
Brief textual descriptions of each site recorded
A summary description of the archaeological significance of the remains
Ancillary information where appropriate, including aerial photographs
Details of Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Designed Landscapes

(2)

Certain Councils, (Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Midlothian & West Lothian), do

not have Sites & Monuments Records (SMR) or access to local authority
archaeologists. These areas must consult the National Monuments Record
Scotland (NMRS) for information.
NB
Staff at the NMRS are not able to give management advice.

(3)

Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are defined as Ancient Monuments of

National Importance and they enjoy statutory protection in law. No works that
affect them should take place without prior permission from the Scottish Ministers

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

(called Scheduled Monument Consent). Contact your relevant Inspector of

Ancient Monuments at Historic Scotland from the list provided a copy of the
consent form is supplied with the Resource pack. Consent is only required if you
are proposing work which might disturb or damage the SAM always consult if
you are not sure whether consent is required.
The initial search from the local authority archaeologist should supply maps
defining the extent of the SAM. The farmer or tenant should already have copies
of this information. If not supplied contact Historic Scotland direct.
NB

As SAMs have statutory protection, you are professionally responsible for making
sure that farmers are aware of activities that are causing harm to Scheduled
Ancient Monuments and you should also advise them to take steps to remedy any
damage (remembering that any active management may require Scheduled
Monument Consent from HS.)

(4)

The majority of archaeological and historic sites do not have statutory protection.
The information on many of them is derived from desk-based sources such as
earlier OS maps and documentary references. It is therefore not necessarily based
on recent field survey and the recorded remains may well have been damaged,
obscured or slighted since they were last described for the archaeological record.

(5)

Certain landscapes, particularly parkland and formal gardens, have especial

protection. These should be identified by the Sites & Monuments Record Audit.
Refer to The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland if
you suspect this is applicable to your farm. Copies of the Inventory are held both
by Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage Area offices. Your local
SEERAD office should also have a copy, as should your local library.
HS & SNH have also drawn up lists for inclusion in a revised edition of the
Inventory. Names of these additional sites are available from the CSA
Archaeological Adviser, but contact HS (krysia.campbell@scotland.gov.uk) or
your local SNH Area office for further information such as the extent of
designated areas. Gardens and Designed Landscapes not in either of these
Inventories are not currently eligible for extra ranking points under the RSS.

(6)

You should also note that all buildings erected before 1840 (the character of which remains
substantially unimpaired) are potentially protected as Listed Buildings, though they may not
have all been formally protected. Later buildings may be included on individual merit. This
listing means that any conversion work proposed for these buildings, whether internal or
external, is subject to planning control. This may include work in the curtilage (see below) of
a listed building. While work on vernacular buildings is not part of the RSS you should
advise your clients to consult their local planning department if they intend to carry out work
on a Listed Building or one that could potentially be listed.
Listed Buildings are broadly defined and can include structures such as walls, fountains,
sundials and bridges. Only roofed structures are ineligible as archaeological sites under the
RSS.
Curtilage is the technical term for the area surrounding a building usually marked

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

by a wall or fence. Buildings within this area, though not themselves listed, may
be subject to the same protection as the building listed. The precise legal
definition of curtilage and its extent is still being refined by recent court decisions
and it remains ill-defined. Take advice from your local conservation officer or
equivalent (usually to be found in your local planning office) if you are uncertain.
Roofed buildings do not qualify for the RSS but ruined structures, in particular
buildings shown as unroofed by the 1st edition OS survey of c1860, may qualify
as archaeological monuments. In addition more recent buildings such as WWII
defences may also qualify as archaeological monuments. While vernacular
buildings are no longer eligible as a separate management option, you should note
their position as part of the conservation audit in case they are eligible as
archaeological sites.
(7)

Farmers, particularly those that have farmed their land for many years, may well
be aware of possible archaeological features that are not recorded on the SMR.
Areas of stony ground, especially of dressed stone & mortar, spreads of pottery
and other occupation debris may mark sites not previously noted.

(8)

Old orchards also count as archaeological sites for inclusion under the RSS.
There is currently no national register of orchard sites and you must confirm with
SNH that the cultivars growing on an orchard site are of botanical and historic
interest. Consult with your SNH Area Office or HS
(krysia.campbell@scotland.gov.uk ) for information on the appropriate species to be
replanted in your area.

(9)

Because traditionally SMRs were point-based sources of information, they have

rarely recorded Dykes as separate archaeological features. The move towards
GIS systems makes it easier to record linear features. Certain dykes such as the
boundaries to medieval deer parks have been identified as archaeological
monuments and it is likely that increasing numbers of dykes will be so recorded.
Where a dyke is listed in an SMR, please treat as an archaeological feature.

(10)

As the SMR is a desk-based information service the data recorded may not reflect
the current status of the archaeological site on a farm. If you cannot find the
recorded archaeological site please check with the farmer to see if changes in the
farm management may have destroyed or obscured the site.
Many archaeological sites are not obvious on the ground and will only become
identifiable through experience. The lack of visibility is not a reflection on
archaeological value, as most archaeological information lies beneath the ground.
In some cases the recorded monument cannot be identified. If there is any
uncertainty over its status it must be included as a site for protection under the
GEC. If in doubt seek professional advice.

(11)

Be aware that the full extent of a site may not be recorded. If in doubt record the
extent that you can see but record your findings by photograph or written record
so that the SMR can be updated.

(12)

Many farms will not have been studied before by professional archaeologists.

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

You can play an important role in identifying sites not previously recorded. It is
your professional responsibility to make sure that all archaeological sites are
recorded, as part of your audit or even from a site visit for another purpose. A
good photograph or set of photographs can often be sufficient for your local
archaeologist to confirm the presence of a site without having to make a farm
visit.
Contact your archaeological adviser (preferably with a photograph) if you think
you have an unrecorded site that may qualify. SEERAD require all historic and
archaeological sites for RSS management to be verified as registered or eligible
for registration on an SMR.
(13)

While considerable effort is spent sorting and checking SMR data, occasionally
grid references can get transposed. Also the information may not have been
recently updated. Cropmark and other sites under arable cultivation will not be
visible on the ground. The NMRS can supply you with laser copies of aerial
photographs of cropmark sites (currently 1 per copy). These are useful for
showing farmers the location of these sites (see also Identifying and Managing
Cropmark Sites under the Rural Stewardship Scheme).

(14)

Make sure that you have identified the full boundaries of an archaeological site
and note the condition of each site in case remedial work is required.

(15)

When marking up the Descriptive Map make sure that the appropriate buffer
zones (5m) are marked on the plan for sites on arable ground. The map will be the
basis for the farmer to comply with the General Environmental Conditions.

(16)

Most archaeological sites survive in stable conditions under existing management

and will be protected by the General Environmental Conditions of the RSS.
There are many potential threats to archaeological sites including among others
overgrazing/poaching, burrowing animals esp. rabbits, bracken, tree plantation,
root damage from trees & scrub, plough damage, drainage,
tracks/ditches/fences/hedges placed across monuments, alterations to a
monuments environment, vandalism, & the dumping of materials over sites.

(16)

Where damage to archaeological sites is occurring this must be stopped even if

the ending of existing practices is not eligible for specific management payments.
The General Environmental Conditions include actions such as controlling tree
regeneration and ploughing within the vicinity of a monument.

(17)

Use the advisory material within the Resource Pack and Historic Scotlands
guidance booklet, Managing Scotlands Archaeological Heritage to help identify
problems and management solutions. Where major remedial work is required or
the management procedure to protect the ancient monument is unclear,
professional advice must be sought.

(18)

Historic Scotland (HS) have a statutory duty to protect SAMs and must be
consulted for Scheduled Monument Consent (a sample copy is held in the pack)
where you are proposing any work which might disturb or damage a SAM. This

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

includes, for example, the siting of fence posts and alterations to the grazing
regime within a scheduled area. If in doubt consult the appropriate Inspector of
Ancient Monuments from the list provided within the Resource Pack. HS do not
need to be consulted if the current management will continue, even if the farm
enters the RSS.
(19)

The local authority archaeologist should be the first source of professional

archaeological advice for non-scheduled monuments. As currently placed most
local authorities will not charge for this service. However all local authorities are
under increasing financial pressure and farm visits and advice may in future be
charged for.
Areas without local authority archaeologists will require to obtain professional
advice from private contractors. Contact the CSA Archaeological Adviser for a
list of contractors. (Complaints about this system should be addressed to your
local authority in the hope it might lead to more appropriate staffing levels.)

(20)

It is important to make sure that farmers are aware what is required of them to
protect archaeological sites both under the RSS General Environmental
Conditions and under any Management Options that are approved by SEERAD.

(21)

Where action is proposed that may disturb or damage a SAM, SEERAD will
expect to see a letter from HS giving Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) for
such works to take place. Where it is unclear whether consent is required, the
onus is on the applicant to confirm from HS that SMC is not required.

(22)

Written confirmation must be given by SNH/HS for proposed actions within

Designed and Garden Landscapes listed in the published Inventory or the
Revised List. Other Gardens and Designed Landscapes are not currently eligible
for payment under the Designed Landscape Capital Works option.

(23)

SEERAD will expect evidence of consultation with appropriate archaeologists for

complex or sensitive archaeological areas. This may not automatically require a
site visit from the appropriate archaeologist, if a good photographic record can be
supplied ie if you can supply sufficient information for the archaeologist to make
a reasoned judgement.

(24)

As Dykes can be built in a variety of styles, it is essential that advice is taken

before any dykes are selected for repair. A photographic record should be made
of a dyke before repair to preserve a record of the original form and condition of
these walls. Dykes should not be considered for repair if their historic,
environmental or landscape value will be significantly diminished by
inappropriate restoration work. Consult with your local archaeologist and SNH if
unsure.

(25)

It is important to make sure that farmers are aware of their responsibilities to protect
archaeological sites both under the RSS General Environmental Conditions and under any
Management Options that are approved by SEERAD.

(26)

Notify SMRs of new sites, where the site differs significantly from the existing record or the
existing record is poor. The SMRs should also be notified where active management of

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)

archaeological and historic site (or sites) has been approved by SEERAD. This will allow
both for the SMR data to be updated and for local monitoring of archaeological management
(where appropriate).This recording of sites is not compulsory under current RSS regulations
but should be followed as a principle of good environmental practice.

(Text last corrected 16/01/03)