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

  SM11900_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014123)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a grass-covered mound situated in an arable field 420m WNW of Ballaggan farm. It is interpreted as an Early Bronze-Age cairn of probable Clava-type and therefore belongs to a complex of ritual monuments which extends over 1km along a flat terrace immediately to the S of the River Nairn, at 115m above sea level.

The mound is circular on plan with a regular profile measuring approximately 20m in diameter and up to 0.7m in height. Some stones are visible in the grass on the summit of the mound which, with its alignment to the axis of the Clava cemetery, suggests that it is a Clava-type cairn of either ring or chambered form. No other stones are visible that can be directly associated with the mound. It appears undisturbed, with the regularity of the mound and its location of a river terrace suggesting that it is artificial.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, to include the mound 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: Excavation of other sites shows us that the remains associated with Clava cairns can include stone platforms enclosed by a circle or 'kerb' of stones, larger surrounding stone circles, burial chambers, and rubble banks or 'rays' joining them as well as other features. They have a complex history of development. Given that this monument was unknown until recently and is apparently undisturbed, there is great potential for good preservation of a range of these features beneath the grass mound. This has the potential to help us to better understand the construction and use of this site and others like it. Potential also exists for preservation of the old ground surface beneath the mound, providing information about the prehistoric environment that existed at the time of its construction and use. The monument has good potential to contribute to our future understanding of Bronze-Age funerary and ritual practices.

Contextual characteristics: This monument is an example of a small, regionally defined group of around 50 prehistoric monuments, known as Clava cairns, which we only find in the Inverness and Moray Firth area, particularly along river valleys and low ground S of the Firth. This monument forms part of an extensive, rare and very important cemetery that we believe was intended to be viewed as a single entity. Topographically, the monuments tend to have a dominant position in relation to the immediate location only, rather than to the wider landscape.

Associative characteristics: It is the view of most prehistorians that there was an intimate relationship between the religious beliefs expressed by monuments such as here, the surrounding landscape and the movements of the main astronomical bodies. This astronomical link continues to generate considerable interest today. The importance of the relict prehistoric landscape that includes this site is recognised by the fact that many of its component monuments are in the care of the Scottish Ministers.

National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it is a potentially undisturbed example of a rare and regionally distinctive class of Early Bronze-Age monument. It can help us understand burial and ritual practices in NE Scotland and their relationship to practices elsewhere in the British Isles. It is a key component of an extensive and well-preserved cemetery and has the potential to provide important information about the activities that took place here and how these contribute to the development of this ceremonial landscape as a whole. Its loss 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.