Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland facts for kids

The Inventory of Historic Battlefields is a special list that helps protect places where big battles happened in Scotland. It's like a national treasure map for important battle sites! This list was first shared in December 2010 by Historic Scotland, which was a part of the Scottish Government. It officially became the Inventory in May 2011.

When it first started, 17 battlefields were on the list. By the end of 2012, it had grown to 39 sites! Today, the list is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland, the group that took over from Historic Scotland. As of 2019, there are 40 battlefields on this important list. The newest one added was the Battle of Sark in 2016.

This list helps people who own land, builders, local councils, and the Scottish Government. It guides them on how to develop these areas without harming their history or any hidden old things underground. Each entry on the list tells you about old stories, things found in the ground, and why the battlefield is important. It also includes a map showing the exact area of the battle.

To decide which battlefields are important enough for the list, experts look at a few things:

• If the site is linked to important historical events.
• If there are old things left or hidden underground that can tell us more.
• If the site is important to Scottish culture.
• What the land around the battlefield looks like.

Scotland's Famous Battlefields List

This section shows some of the many famous battles that are protected on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields. Each battle has a unique story and played a part in shaping Scotland's past.