Scheduled Monument
Burrian, broch and settlement S end of Stromness, North RonaldsaySM1427
Status: Designated
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.
Summary
- Date Added
- 17/11/1949
- Last Date Amended
- 03/03/2000
- Type
- Prehistoric domestic and defensive: broch; settlement (if not assigned to any more specific type)
- Local Authority
- Orkney Islands
- Parish
- Cross And Burness
- NGR
- HY 76263 51415
- Coordinates
- 376263, 1051415
Description
The monument comprises a broch, multiple earthwork banks and associated later Pictish settlement situated at the S end of Strom Ness. Part excavation in 1870-71 revealed evidence for more than one phase of activity and the sequence at the site is considered to be of great importance. The monument was first scheduled in 1949, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present scheduling remedies this.
The focal point of the site is a solid-based broch which survives up to 3m in height. Various architectural features are visible including a scarcement ledge with (unusual) corbelled walling above, the entrance opening to the foreshore and a subterranean chamber, probably a well. The S extremities of the broch have partly been lost to coastal erosion. Four lines of earthworks surround the broch. The famous North Ronaldsay sheep wall (1832 and later) runs along the S and E parts of the site; indeed the broch wall forms part of its circuit.
The 19th century excavation produced a rich assemblage of finds, including over 100 finely worked bone pins and needles, an important assemblage of Pictish decorated, composite antler combs; gaming pieces (two incised with Pictish symbols); decorated pebbles, some pottery, metalwork and glass. A human jaw-bone, animal bone and various botanical remains were also recovered. An iron bell also may relate to religious activity on the site.
The area to be scheduled is roughly triangular on plan and measures up to 110m from SW to NE by 90m transversely, to include the broch, its outer earthworks and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use my survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Those parts of the sheep dyke which are not prehistoric fabric and date from 1832 or later, and any other above ground field boundaries, are excluded from the scheduling.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.
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