Ancient monument facts for kids

Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric ancient monuments.

An ancient monument is a special term used in British law. It describes old buildings, structures, or places that are very important to history. These sites are usually archaeological sites or other places that show us about the past. They are protected because they have great archaeological or heritage value.

What Are Ancient Monuments?

Ancient monuments are historical places or structures that are worth saving and studying. They teach us about how people lived long ago. These sites are important for their history, design, traditions, art, or archaeological findings. They help us understand our past and the cultures that came before us.

British vs. American Monuments

The idea of an "ancient monument" in Britain is different from a "national monument" in the United States. In the U.S., national monuments can be natural places, like mountains or canyons. However, British ancient monuments are always man-made. This means they were built or shaped by people.

Protecting Ancient Monuments

In Britain, ancient monuments are officially defined by a law called the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This law helps protect these important sites.

The law says an ancient monument can be:

• Any scheduled monument. There are more than 20,000 of these protected sites today.
• Any other monument that the government believes is important to the public. This importance can be for its history, architecture (how it's built), traditions, art, or archaeological value.

What is a Scheduled Monument?

A "scheduled monument" is an ancient monument that has been given special legal protection. This means it is listed on a national schedule (a list). Once a monument is "scheduled," it is protected from damage or changes without special permission. This helps make sure these valuable historical sites are preserved for future generations.

See Also

• English Heritage
• Scheduled monument

Images for kids

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