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

  SM1675_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004386)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a standing stone bearing Pictish symbols, standing approximately 60m N of the shore of the Cromarty Firth.

Clach a' Mheirlich, or 'The Thief's Stone', is a sandstone pillar approximately 2m high by 0.5m square, with Pictish symbols incised on the SE and SW sides. The SE side has a 'notched rectangle' symbol approximately one-third of the way up, and the SW side bears, about half way up, worn traces of a crescent symbol with, below, a symbol which could be either a pair of pincers or a "tuning fork". Clach a' Mheirlich is a Class I stone, and hence probably dates from between the 7th and 9th centuries AD.

Clach a'Mheirlich may be a prehistoric standing stone upon which Pictish symbols were later incised. It stands within a cultivated field and until the symbols were noticed by Dr Sutherland of Invergordon at some date before 1890 it was locally considered to be of prehistoric date. It thus seems possible that the stone stands in its original position, a possibility supported by the very weathered state of the symbols.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of 10m in diameter, centred on the stone, and includes the stone and an area in which traces of activities associated with the monument, in both historic and prehistoric times, may survive.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a standing stone, carved with Pictish symbols, the erection of which may date to prehistoric or early historic times. Its importance is greatly enhanced by the possibility that it remains on its original site. Study of it has the potential to contribute to our understanding of the social structure and beliefs within early historic and possibly prehistoric Scotland, and to our understanding of the function of these enigmatic monuments.

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.