Archaeology in Fife

Fife Council

Standing Stones, Lundin Links

The Archaeological Unit based within Development Services at Fife House, offers information and advice on the historic sites and monuments of Fife.

For further information on the work of the Unit, read the note below.

For a listing of Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Fife, click on the related document entitled Archaeological Designations in Fife. Also shown in the related documents is an Historic Scotland note on grants for Ancient Monuments (word format) and a Historic Scotland Guide to Scheduling of Ancient Monuments aimed at owners, occupiers and land managers (PDF format).

Contents

A Sustainable Fife
Fife Sites and Monuments Record
Archaeological Finds and Treasure Trove
Planning and Archaeology
Agri-Environment Schemes and Forestry
Scheduled Ancient Monuments
 

A Sustainable Fife

Fife possesses a rich variety of archaeological remains, which are a physical record of thousands of years of human development and activity. These archaeological remains are a fragile and non-renewable resource that our Council is committed to preserving and enhancing.

The Archaeological Unit offers information and advice on the sites and monuments of Fife to assist in achieving this goal.

Continuing development is essential for Fife, but at the same time the greatest care must be taken to ensure that our heritage is preserved and protected. The preservation and study of Fife’s archaeology is important to our understanding of our predecessors and will be our legacy to future generations.

Fife Sites and Monuments Record

Fife Council maintains a register (the Fife Sites and Monuments Record) of all known archaeological and historical sites within our area. Details of some 10,000 archaeological sites can be found in our database, which has a GIS (Geographical Information System) link.

These sites cover all aspects of the human occupation of Fife over the past 10,000 years ranging from Mesolithic hunter-gatherer camps dated to 7500BC to the Royal Observer Corp bunkers of the cold war.

The FSMR also holds copies of old maps, photographs, reports and books relevant to these archaeological and historical sites

New information is constantly being added as a result of development, research and chance discovery. The FSMR is used as a resource for planning, forestry, roads, water services, oil & gas pipelines, electricity companies, tourism, as well as educational establishments, local societies and individuals.

What is an archaeological site or monument

A Monument is the physical remains of structures or sediments of archaeological significance while a Site comprises sediments and occasionally structures that present no evidence for their existence at ground level.

The archaeological interest of a Monument extends beyond its visible remains, sometimes for a considerable distance. Thus, every Monument sites within a Site but not every Site has an associated Monument.

Consulting the FSMR

Copies of maps, detailed lists of sites and background information can be made available to any enquirer.A charge is made for these services when the information is for commercial purpose.

Archaeological Finds and Treasure Trove

All newly discovered ancient objects in Scotland, whether precious metal or not, belong to the Crown, because the heirs of the previous owner can never be known. The law is the same whether such objects were hidden or lost, in natural ground or in buildings.

It is important that new archaeological finds should be reported to your local Museum, local Police or the Archaeological Unit. The find be held until a decision is made by the Crown as to whether the Crown wishes to retain the object and if so to which Museum it will be entrusted.

Where an object is retained the finder will be paid a reward based on the market value of the object. For more information contact the Treasure Trove Advisory Panel Secretariat c/o National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF.

As different laws cover skeletons or other human remains, graves should always be reported to the police, who will contact a museum or us. Discoveries found in or on the shores of the sea or tidal water are covered by different law and should be reported to: The Receiver of Wreck, The Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG.

For information on any of the above please contact Douglas Speirs.

Planning and Archaeology

Planning guidance

Since the publication of National Planning Policy Guideline 5 and Planning Advice Note 42 in January 1994, archaeological issues have become a material consideration in the planning process. This guidance makes it the responsibility of the developer to ensure that archaeological remains are dealt with in an appropriate manner.

Where a development is expected to have an adverse impact on archaeology this may be dealt with in one of three ways:

• Planning permission may be granted subject to a condition requiring a scheme of archaeological work to be carried out.
• The planning decision may be deferred pending the results of an archaeological evaluation.
• In exceptional cases, permission may be refused on archaeological grounds.

If you are planning a development it pays to seek advice from the Archaeological Unit as early as possible before submitting a planning application. This can save time, money and avoid problems later.

Where a condition is applied the scheme of archaeological work will typically commence with a programme of investigative works to determine the nature, form and extent of the archaeology present on the development site.

Where an adverse impact on significant archaeology is confirmed the first priority is for the preservation of archaeological remains in situ. Sympathetic foundation design or amendments to the layout can achieve this, for example. If such an approach is not feasible, then detailed excavation, recording, analysis and publication is the second best option.

Archaeological Briefs

It is the responsibility of the developer to employ a professional archaeological contractor to carry out necessary archaeological work. On request, the Archaeological Unit can issue an Archaeological Brief which sets out in detail what is required for fulfilment of the condition.

The developer can send copies of the specification to archaeological contractors who will use it as a basis for providing a quote. There is a charge for this service.

Contractors

A list of archaeological contractors can supplied by the Archaeological Unit without comment as to the competence or availability of any of the firms, companies or individuals listed. The list is not exhaustive and there may be other contractors active in the area and any party seeking such contractors should bear this fact in mind.

Agri-Environment Schemes and Forestry

The Archaeological Unit offers advice and audits to applicants into the Rural Stewardship Scheme and Woodlands Grant Scheme. There are charges for audits as per any commercial consultation of the FSMR.

Conservation of archaeological features in all cases is best arranged as part of an overall management plan for the farm, estate or forest. Often a policy of minimum intervention is proposed with the aim of retarding natural decay and retaining the site or area in the condition in which it was found.

In other cases more positive management is appropriate to benefit the site. For instance taking land out of cultivation to protect from plough damage or clearing trees and scrub to halt root damage. Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made when the vegetation that gives a ruin its romantic appeal is destroying the structure, or when nature conservation interests conflict with those of archaeology.

In other cases, wildlife and historic conservation can support each other, for example where grass-covered settlement remains develop a good diversity of species, or where old buildings or ruins provide homes for owls or bats.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Some 280 sites and monuments in Fife have been designated as being of National Importance and are protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 by the Scottish Ministers. It is a serious offence to interfere with these sites.

For more information about Archaeology in Fife, contact Douglas Spiers on the number below or phone 01592 583391.

The link below allows to search a national database of ancient sites and monuments.

www.rcahms.gov.uk/search.html

Any enquiries concerning Scheduled Ancient Monuments should be addressed to:

Historic Scotland
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Edinburgh EH9 1SH

tel. 0131 668 8600

Archaeology in Fife is available at

• Glenrothes
  • Development Services - Fife House, Glenrothes

See Also

Subjects

• Conservation