Ancient Monument

Although generally referring to recognized archaeological sites and ancient structures, this term also has a specific legal meaning set out in Section 61(12) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (AMAAA) for England, Wales, and Scotland. Here ‘Ancient Monuments’ are either Scheduling Monuments or ‘any other monument which in the opinion of the Secretary of State is of public interest by reason of the historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, or archaeological interest attaching to it’. Section 33(8) of the National Heritage Act 1983 also defines the term Ancient Monument with reference to the work of English Heritage as: ‘any structure, work, site, garden or area which in the Commission's opinion is of historic, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological interest’.