Skip to content
Limes03b

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites are cultural and/or natural sites of Outstanding Universal Value. These are sites of international importance across countries and generations.

How are World Heritage Sites inscribed?

World Heritage Sites are nominated by their countries of origin for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the time of inscription on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee adopts a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) which will be the key reference for the future effective protection and management of the property.

A site may also be inscribed with a Buffer Zone. This is area surrounding the World Heritage Site that gives an added layer of protection. Buffer Zones should include the immediate setting of the nominated site, important views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the Site and its protection. The Buffer Zone can be used to highlight an area where potential impacts need to be given careful consideration by developers and decision-makers.

Being accepted onto the List by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO is a high accolade. It provides international recognition of the importance of these sites. Once inscribed on the World Heritage List, there is a duty to protect, conserve and present it for future generations.

© Crown Copyright HES
A brass plaque with text on it. ‘The Frontiers of the Roman Empire.
The Antonine Wall became a World Heritage Site in 2008.’

© Crown Copyright HES

Why did the Antonine Wall become a World Heritage Site?

In 2008, the Antonine Wall was inscribed as part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site. This is a trans-national site which also includes Hadrian’s Wall and the Upper German-Raetian Limes.

The wall was inscribed for a number of reasons including:

  • It is an outstanding example of the technological development of Roman military architecture and frontier defence
  • It represents a physical manifestation of a change in Roman imperial foreign policy, exhibiting interchanges of human and cultural values
  • It bears testimony to the maximum extension of the power of the Roman Empire, by the consolidation of its frontiers in the north of the British Isles, in the middle of the 2nd century AD.

The Buffer Zone for the Antonine Wall has been defined to protect the immediate setting of the World Heritage Site; the adjacent environment that is part of, and contributes to the character, significance and understanding of the Wall. Definition of the Buffer Zone has been based on visibility to and from the WHS, and analysis of the land use setting, including urban areas.

© Rediscovering the Antonine Wall Project
Rough Castle ‘Lilia’ defensive pits from above, the only known example. Deep, oblong pits in the grass surrounded by trees.

© Rediscovering the Antonine Wall Project

What other World Heritage Sites are in Scotland?

There are currently six World Heritage Sites in Scotland inscribed for a range of cultural and natural heritage values. Alongside the Antonine Wall these are:

Alongside World Heritage, there are other UNESCO designations in Scotland. To find out more, why not explore Scotland’s award winning, world first UNESCO Trail?

© Historic Environment Scotland
Celebrating World Heritage display image. A series of hexagonal shaped photos and bright colours on a black background.

© Historic Environment Scotland

© Rediscovering the Antonine Wall Project
Croy hill from above, with the Silvanus sculpture at Nethercroy in front. A wooded hill and grassland with the sky beyond.

Protecting and managing the wall

As part of a transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site, discover how the Antonine Wall is protected and managed.

Find out more

What was it made of and how was it made?

Discover how the Antonine Wall was constructed over 2,000 years ago.

Who lived on the wall?

Home to both soldiers and civilians, learn about the lives of the people who made the Antonine Wall their home.