Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM10999_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013826)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a fortified settlement on a craggy knoll on the hillside below Eigg's eastern cliffs.

The fort has been created by the construction of a drystone wall to supplement the natural rock scarps which defend much of the perimeter of the knoll. The wall is best developed on the S side, where a rocky terrace is edged by a wall some 2.5m wide, faced with large stones externally, which forms an L-plan to enclose the more level ground. What may be the tumbled remains of an entranceway appear about halfway along the longer, SW-NE, stretch of wall. Traces of this wall, much scattered, also occur on the E side of the knoll, where it hardly seems defensively necessary. There is no sign of artificial internal features. At the foot of the knoll, a few small shelters of boulders have been constructed on the rock-strewn hillside. These are probably later, perhaps lambing shelters.

The monument is in an area of Eigg which is rather inaccessible by land, but would be readily approached by sea, and it commands extensive seaward views to the E. The site is overlooked by the high cliffs of the NE coast of Eigg, the top of which lies about 170m W of the top of the knoll of Corragan Mor. Corragan Mor is in the same general area as the puzzling underground structure at Struidh (scheduled separately) but does not overlook it.

The area to be scheduled is circular, 70m in diameter, to include the whole of the knoll on which the fort stands and an area around it. This area is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a small fortified site in an improbable location. It has the potential to provide information about late prehistoric defensive settlement at the extremes of geographical and economic viability.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.