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

  SM11800_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014097)

Summary

Description

The monument is a prehistoric burial cairn, dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age and surviving as a prominent turf-covered stony mound within a field of improved pasture. It sits prominently on a rise overlooking the River Farigaig to the S at a height of approximately 225m OD.

The cairn measures approximately 15m in diameter and 2.3m in height and is built of water-worn stones, probably quarried from the bed of the nearby river. The footings of the buildings of an abandoned post-medieval settlement are present on the N and W edges of the monument and ploughing has truncated the S edge of the monument. The past addition to the cairn of some field clearance stones is a possibility.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, to include the visible remains and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The cairn retains the important field characteristics of a Neolithic or Bronze-Age burial cairn. Despite the probable robbing of stones for the buildings of the adjacent post-medieval settlement and some erosion caused by livestock grazing the site, the convex profile of the cairn interior does not suggest extensive disturbance. The monument potentially preserves archaeological deposits relating to prehistoric burial rites, as well as sealing evidence for the earlier environment.

Contextual characteristics: The cairn formed a highly visible component of the prehistoric landscape and can be compared and contrasted to nearby prehistoric funerary monuments and others outside the region to create an understanding of regional identity and society during this period. The site's location affords extensive views of the rolling countryside at the N end of Stratherrick and ensures intervisibility between it and the complex of prehistoric settlement sites, both domestic and funerary, evident in the surrounding area.

National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it is a prominent, upstanding cairn dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age with the potential to reveal much about funerary practice in the prehistoric communities of NE Scotland. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to our knowledge of prehistoric society in this locality and, by association, the rest of Scotland. The loss of the monument would affect our future ability to appreciate and understand the prehistoric landscape and its inhabitants.

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.