They are names that evoke Scotland's rich and bloody heritage: Culloden and Bannockburn, Stirling Bridge and Prestonpans.

Now moves are being made for the first time to specifically protect the country's many historic battlefields.

A consultation, launched tomorrow by Historic Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, sets out proposals on how battle sites can be officially recognised in planning decisions and asks the public, local authorities and professional bodies to contribute their thoughts on the process.

One of the main problems highlighted by Historic Scotland is that, for a number of battles - including some of the most pivotal in Scottish history, such as Robert the Bruce's victory at Bannockburn in 1314 - the exact site of the battle is still a matter of much academic debate.

Yesterday Lesley Macinnes, head of strategy and operations at the inspectorate of Historic Scotland, admitted that some battlefields may never gain a place on a proposed list of sites - to be known as the Inventory of Battlefields - because the site of the clash cannot be identified accurately.

The consultation document states that sites fit for the inventory must be mapped and identified and "sites that cannot be defined in this way will not be included even though they may have witnessed nationally important events."

For the next three months people can comment on how best to protect battlefield sites, and a final analysis paper will be prepared by Historic Scotland for ministers by mid-October.

Dr Tony Pollard, director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University, which has worked with Historic Scotland on the consultation document, said: "This has been a long time coming and I am very excited that the public are being involved. That is a good move for everyone involved.

"The public response to this will be very important and I am sure there will be some very strong opinions.

"Strong emotions can be stirred when you talk about battlefields. There are battlefields that are important at a national level. But there are important battlefields at a local level too, be it a clan encounter in the Highlands or a Covenanters' battle elsewhere - and we must be careful that we don't write off battle sites that have a lower profile than others."

Dr Pollard said archaeology could play a large role in answering some of the questions about the sites of important battles in Scottish history.

The consultation document, published yesterday, says that battlefields have value not only because they contain physical remains and artefacts important to Scottish history, but they "contribute to our sense of place and history".

Currently there is no specific legislation to protect battlefields, although existing measures have been applied to parts of conflict sites, for example physical and built features, to be protected as scheduled monuments or listed buildings.

Battlefields can also be recognised within the planning system and can have indirect protection if they lie within national parks.

The document states that this uneven pattern underpins "the need for a policy for the protection, sustainable management and promotion of significant battlefields in their landscape context".

Linda Fabiani, the Culture Minister, said: "The battles fought on Scottish soil are crucial to how we understand our collective history and identity. The intention of this consultation is to look at what can be done to ensure that they get proper recognition."