Bowden Hill Fort, Linlithgow Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, UK

Scheduled Monument Description

© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.

The monument comprises the remains of a hillfort of prehistoric date surviving as a series of earthworks.

The monument occupies the summit of Bowden Hill and commands extensive views over this part of West Lothian.

It is defined by a substantial stone and earth rampart enclosing an area of approximately 250m E-W by 100m. The S of the fort is defined by natural crags and most of the defences on this side have slumped away.

A further rampart encloses the highest part of the hill. There are numerous building foundations inside the fort, some of which may represent contemporary occupation. Two earthfast boulders on the E approach to the fort may be deliberately emplaced.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 460m E-W by 150m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Scheduled Monument Statement of Significance

© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric settlement development. The survival of internal buildings and the possible multi-phase nature of the occupation suggested by the multiple ramparts, indicates that this monument contains evidence for the development of house construction and domestic organisation over a considerable period.

Scheduled Monument References

© Crown Copyright text courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland, reprinted under the Open Government License.

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NS 97 SE 1.