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

  SM1820_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015535)

Summary

Description

The monument is a group of earthfast stones, aligned in rows, thought to date from the Bronze Age (2500 to 800 BC). Within Scotland, stone rows are a site type only found in Caithness and Sutherland. The monument is located on a southeast facing slope within moorland and lies around 90m above sea level.

The monument is visible as at least 12 small earthfast stones, typically measuring around 0.4-0.5m in height and similar in width, set out over two parallel alignments. The stone rows run for approximately 8m and the rows are about 1-1.5m apart. An early survey of the monument, in 1909, recorded at least 17 earthfast stones running in two rows for a length of around 13.5m. The monument is located on open moorland and set upon a slope on the north side of the Strath of Kildonan. The site offers views across the valley floor to the southeast, south and southwest while the hillside to the northwest and north overlooks the monument.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan and includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The monument was first scheduled in 1940, but the documentation did not meet current standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our knowledge and understanding of the past, particularly the design and construction of stone rows in Caithness and Sutherland. The stone rows at Torrish Burn have good field characteristics, allowing us to interpret their form and position in the landscape. The site has potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains, including artefacts and palaeoenvironmental evidence. There are numerous other broadly contemporary monuments in the vicinity, including other stone rows and prehistoric settlements, which together can contribute to our understanding of the form of the prehistoric landscape.  This is important for enhancing our understanding of Bronze Age society, its organisation, economy and beliefs. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand the use of stone rows and their role and function within the prehistoric communities which constructed them.

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.