Services we provide

Online Search Help

Before using the Sites & Monument Record we recommend you take some time to read the Conditions of Use.

This is a guide on how to use both the on-line database and maps for exploring information held in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Sites and Monuments Record, for both sites and objects found in the two Council areas.

There are two main ways to search the Sites and Monument Record, these are via the Search Tab or the Map Tab.

The Search Tab
You must fill in at least one of the boxes on the form before clicking on the "Search" button. You do not have to fill in every field, but you can refine your search by using more than one of the following four categories, Locality Name, Site/Object Type, Period and Parish.
(You will notice that there are two further boxes, SMR Number and NMRS Number, these are only of use if you know the Record Number of a particular item as recorded by either Stirling/Clackmannanshire Council or the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. See relevant help details below).

Locality Name
Enter the name of a place or site in which you are interested. The search is not case-sensitive but you should avoid the use of punctuation marks such as commas, apostrophes, full stops, etc in the locality name box. You may for example, wish to carry out a general search of the Doune area. To do this you simply type "Doune" in the Locality Name box, and click on the search button. This will take you to the Results page where you will see all the entries currently recorded with the place name "Doune" within the Locality Name. A maximum of 15 sites/objects per page will be displayed at one time*. To obtain more details of a particular displayed record simply click on the SMR number in the left-hand column, which will take you to the Details page. To return to the list of results either click on the Results Tab, or simply hit backspace on your computer keyboard.

* There is no limit to the number of pages of results returned. The results are listed alphabetically by locality name, with site results given first followed by objects.

Site/Object Type
Enter the type of site or object of interest, for example fort or coin.View the Keywords List. The search is not case-sensitive. Enter only singular object or site type, i.e. in general NO plurals are to be used (for exceptions see keyword list). Also avoid punctuation marks such as commas, full stops, etc. The search can then proceed as for Locality Name.

SMR Number
This refers to a unique reference number given by the Archaeology Service to each site or object for which details are held in the Stirling & Clackmannanshire Sites & Monuments Record, for example "1207.01". If known, this number can be used in isolation to search the database.

NMRS Number
This is the unique identifier given by the National Monuments Record to each site or findspot. It is written for example "NS79SE 1". NS79SE indicates the quadrant on the 10km x 10km map sheet on which the site is located, the "1" part of the reference is the individual site number for that site in that quadrant. If known, this number can also be used in isolation to search the database.

Parish
Select a parish from the drop down menu located at the right hand side of the box. Click the arrow to display the list of options available. You may need to use the scroll bar to see the full list. The parishes listed are Civil Parishes.

Period
Select a period from the drop down menu located at the right hand side of the box. Click on the arrow to display the list of options available. You may need to use the scroll bar to see the full list. Click here.for more information on the dates covered by these period categories.

Search
When you have filled in the desired fields, click on this button to run the query.

A note on Grid References
All of the UK has been laid out on a grid system by the Ordnance Survey called the National Grid. This grid uses a framework of squares measuring 100km by 100km, within which we can use a National Grid Reference (NGR) to state the position of any point in Britain, to any level of precision that we require. To make it easy to identify the squares, they have each been assigned a two-letter code. This forms the prefix of the NGR. We then need to state two numbers or groups of numbers depending on the level of accuracy: an easting (along the horizontal axis) and a northing (along the vertical axis). The four sets of prefixed letters which are used in the area covered by the Stirling & Clackmannanshire SMR are NN, NO, NS and NT.

While this lettering system remains in common use, the advent of computer based systems and the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has required spatial data to be capable of being referenced to a location on the earth's surface. To do this, common frames of reference and co-ordinate systems have been set up so that spatial data layers can be referenced to the earth's surface in the same way. This data is described as "georeferenced". In Great Britain it is based on the Ordnance Survey National Grid. It requires the conversion of the two letter codes to be incorporated into a wholly numeric format. Some examples are given below.

National Grid Reference NN 43000 25000 converts to 243000 625000
National Grid Reference NO 03400 04000 converts to 303400 704000
National Grid Reference NS 79000 94000 converts to 279000 694000
National Grid Reference NT 08000 98000 converts to 308000 698000

Grid References on the Details page of the SMR are given in georeferenced format.

The Grid References which are used in the SMR relate wherever possible to the approximate centre of the site or findspot. Where the exact location is not known the Grid Reference supplied relates to a point to the south-west, at the junction of the nearest easting and northing.

Contact:
Archaeology Officer, Environment Service,
Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET
Tel: 01786 442752, Fax: 01786 443003, e-mail: Lorna Main