This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Asking questions on heritage and history
15/03/2004
A three-month consultation on the
revised criteria and guidance for defining national
importance for ancient monuments was luanched today as part
of a wider review of the process of scheduling ancient
monuments.
Culture Minister Frank McAveety said:
"Much of what we recognise today asScotland's cultural heritage is embodied in our rich and
varied resource of ancient monuments.Scotland's 7,700 scheduled monuments range from 6,000 year
old settlements to WWII pill-boxes and provide us with a
tangible connection to a very human element of our
past.
"The protection of these monuments is key to
ensuring we are worthy stewards of this legacy. Through
this consultation process we are engaging with
stakeholders, and with their participation we will
achieve best practice."
"This consultation is being carried
out by Historic Scotland and is open to all with an
interest in the future of this valuable part of our
historic environment, including owners, local authorities,
special interest groups and the wider public.
"The aim of the consultation is to
identify revised criteria and guidance for determining
whether a monument is of national importance and therefore
merits statutory protection as a scheduled monument.
The 'scheduling' of ancient monuments has been going
on since 1882. The current set of criteria and guidelines,
to help determine what monuments deserve legal protection
(under theAncientMonumentsand Archaeological Areas Act 1979), were written in
1983. The new guidelines take into account developments in
UK and international regulation, treaty and
practice.
HistoricScotlandis an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive
charged with safeguarding the Nation's built heritage and
promoting its understanding and enjoyment.