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

  SM11806_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014099)

Summary

Description

This monument comprises the remains of a late prehistoric hut circle and Sheanevall, a deserted rural township of post-medieval date, surviving as a series of upstanding rectangular and sub-rectangular building plots and stone courses, earthen banks, dykes, corn-drying kiln and a single hut circle. The monument lies at approximately 380 above sea level in open and rough pasture on the E side of Strathdearn and the river Findhorn.

Seven unroofed buildings are depicted and named on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map, all of which survive today as upstanding remains. These remains survive up to four or five stone courses high. The structures of the township include five buildings oriented N-S and measuring 10m and 25m long by approximately 5m wide, a sixth rectangular building adjoining one of these and measuring approximately 12m by 5m oriented E-W, and a seventh building appearing as a corn-drying kiln measuring approximately 5m by 5m. Likely to be associated with the township in the area immediately to the W and N are the remains of enclosures and agricultural boundaries, surviving as low stone walls. Immediately to the N of the township is a late prehistoric hut circle measuring approximately 10m in diameter and surviving to a height of 1m. There is a break in the structure of the hut circle in its southern arc, likely to be the entrance. Lastly, there is a linear, earthen bank feature running across the contours and overlain by a later stone wall that may be associated with the hut circle.

The area proposed for scheduling is irregular on plan, to include the remains described and an area around them within which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. Specifically excluded from the schedule area is the fenced bird pen fence located to the NW of the site.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

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

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is a well-preserved example of a hut circle and highland rural township with upstanding remains dating from the Late Bronze Age/ Iron Age and post-Medieval periods. The hut circle has survived well with evidence of its circular rough stone construction and entrance intact, alongside a curious earthen bank, overlain by a later stone wall. The individual buildings and enclosure walls that define the later township retain their basic architectural detail, in places up to several courses high and despite stone robbing. The site has considerable potential to enhance our understanding of settlement and small-scale rural economy during later prehistory. It also represents the agricultural economy of highland Scotland during more recent times.

Contextual characteristics: As a well preserved example of an upland rural settlement and single hut circle, this monument reflects landuse and settlement over an extensive time-frame, dating back to the Late Bronze Age / Iron Age. The comparison of this example to others in Strathdearn and the wider landscape of the highlands will help to create a fuller picture of the region's character during later prehistory and in more recent times, such as the periods of agricultural improvement or widespread clearance.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is well preserved and has inherent potential to add to our understanding, not only of settlement and upland economy in later prehistoric and post-medieval times, but also how monuments like these from different periods inter-relate. The loss of this example would impede any future ability to understand this time-depth and sequence of landuse and the intrinsic nature of the settlement, its structures and the people who lived here.

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.