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

  SM11123_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013880)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of an Iron Age broch, a drystone-built fortified dwelling, situated on the edge of a rocky escarpment in rough grazing land on the eastern slopes of Strathnaver at around 80m OD.

The monument survives as the grassed-over remains of the broch and its outworks. The broch has stone wall footings approximately 4m thick enclosing an area 8.3m in diameter, giving an overall dimension of around 16.5m. The wall has been reduced to near ground level. The broch is surrounded by what appears to be a double rampart with intervening ditches, with an entrance through the outworks is to the SE. On either side of this entrance, along the inner face of the inner rampart, are the discontinous remains of a stone retaining wall. An arc of walling, 4.2m long, against the inner face of the same rampart immediately W of the entrance, possibly represents the remains of a domestic structure, probably later in date than the rampart. The inner of the two ditches is up to 8.5m wide and 3m deep, whilst the outer is up to 6m wide and 1.2m deep. A secondary boulder-built enclosure, measuring 21m x 6m, has been built within the inner ditch to the NE and partially overlies the entrance causeway.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, approximately 100m in diameter. This includes all the features described as well as an outer area within which evidence relating to the construction, occupation and abandonment of the site may be expected to survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as the remains of an Iron Age broch, being of the 'mound-on-mound' type common to Caithness and Sutherland. It offers the potential to provide information on the nature of settlement and defensive architecture during this period of prehistory.

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.