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

  SM1518_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004259)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a chambered cairn of prehistoric date, visible as a stony mound, and the remains of a small circle of standing stones enclosing a small cairn. The monument was first scheduled in 1930, and re-scheduled in 1969, but on both occasions an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present re-scheduling rectifies this.

The sites are situated some 9km from the head of Glen Almond, on a terrace 15m above the northern bank of the River Almond.

The chambered cairn is aligned approximately NW-SE and measures 58m in length by 11.6m in breadth at the S end, narrowing to 6.1m at the N end. It stands up to 1.5m high at the S end, but diminishes in height towards the N. In plan the ends are rounded. There is no axial chamber or facade, but there were four lateral chambers entered from the S side. Three of these were emptied through excavation in 1954; a fourth, visible in 1910, had been totally destroyed. The cairn has evidently been robbed and disturbed, probably in connection with the road that passes it on the S side. Cairns of this type normally date to the Neolithic period.

The small circle of standing stones enclosing the remains of probably a second cairn lies about 45m SE of the long cairn and was also partially excavated in 1954. The circle comprises one upright stone, 1.3m in height, and the stump of another, standing some 5m apart; the holes for two others were found in 1954. No dating evidence was recovered, but this type of monument normally dates from the Bronze Age (around 2000 to 1500 BC). Within and around the stones is a low mound of rubble, about 6m in diameter, probably the remains of a burial cairn.

The scheduled monument comprises two discrete areas, as marked in red on the accompanying map. The area around the chambered cairn is irregular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 80m NW-SE by 36m transversely, to include the upstanding cairn and an area around it within which related evidence is likely to survive. The area around the stone circle is a circle in shape, 15.5m in diameter. The top 20cm of the track (which runs SW of the chambered cairn and N of the stone circle) is excluded from the scheduling to allow for routine maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

These monuments are of national importance as they have the potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. Their importance is enhanced by their group value, especially given the close proximity of two or more different types of prehistoric ritual and funerary monument, and the possible associations between a chambered cairn and a stone circle enclosing another cairn. The monument is damaged and has been partially excavated, but still retains significant archaeological potential, both within and beneath the two cairns.

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.