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

  SM11001_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013828)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a stone-walled fort situated on a low rocky rise on the promontory of Rubha na Crannaig.

The area enclosed is roughly triangular on plan and measures a maximum of 37.0m N-S by 21.0m. The outer enclosing wall is now turf-covered and spread up to 4m. It has been quarried in places and much of the wall material on the E has fallen over the low cliff. A few stones of the outer face are visible widely spaced around the periphery and a length of face some 5m long survives at the N end. One or two possible inner facing stones in the S and E suggest a wall thickness of c.2.5m. The entrance is in the W side and is marked by a gap 2m wide, widening to 7m on the S (interior) side of the wall, suggesting that there may have been some form of construction immediately within the fort. The interior of the fort contains confused traces of foundations, some of which appear to be circular. These are apparently of more than one period.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures a maximum of 105m N-S by 80m E-W, to include the fort and possible later settlement and an area around in which evidence associated with the site and its use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as a good example of a prehistoric defended promontory. It has the potential to provide important information about prehistoric architecture and settlement practices. Internal features within the fort suggest a secondary, possibly monastic occupation. It has been suggested that this may be the site of St Donnan's monastery (attested in AD 617), although the nearby churchyard of Kildonnan also has a claim.

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.