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

  SM1944_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004610)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a group of six prehistoric burial cairns, of which at least two are chambered. The cairns are located on a S- sloping hillside, three on either side of the road to Mid Gleniron. To the immediate NW side of the road is a round cairn, about 11m across and 0.8m high, which does not appear to have been disturbed. About 70m NNW from this cairn there are two cairns, almost abutting. The more southerly cairn is partly grass covered, and is 10.2m in diameter and 0.6m high. This cairn has been rather scattered, and before excavation (in 1963-6) appeared to be joined to the cairn which lies a few metres away. This third cairn is a chambered tomb of rather unusual design. It appears to have evolved as an amalgamation of several separate elements: two round cairns with chambers entering from just E of N, and aligned in that direction, the more northerly with a semi-circular forecourt, were joined to form a single long cairn, with the addition of a third burial chamber on the W side, which seems to have been added at the time of the remodelling. Very close to the SE side of the road are two cairns. The first (fourth in order of this description) is oval, about 8m by 12m and 0.8m high, with a small closed chamber apparently lacking an entrance passage. This cairn has been partly excavated. About 12m to the NNE is a long chambered tomb which has been more extensively excavated. Once again it is of composite origin, with an early oval cairn, with burial chamber entered from the ESE, against which was set, on the S side, a burial chamber entered from the SSW, with a concave facade on that side, the whole being embedded within a roughly rectangular long cairn. Finally, about 90m to the NE, is a fine round cairn, apparently undisturbed. This cairn is 25m in diameter and 4m high, and has a bell-shaped profile recalling the bell-barrows of southern Britain. The area to be scheduled is in four parts. Three are circular, 35m in diameter. These are centred on the first and on the sixth-mentioned cairns and on the mid-point between the second and third-mentioned. The fourth part is approximately rectangular, measuring 50m NE-SW by 30m, and aligned alongside the road, with its NW boundary formed by the field boundary, which is excluded from scheduling, and its NE boundary likewise formed by an excluded field boundary. These areas are marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance, indeed arguably of international importance, for the information it has contributed, and additional information which it may still contain, about the sequence and development of funerary and ritual architecture during the Neolithic and early Bronze Age. It may also contain information, accessible to excavation and analysis, about contemporary environmental conditions and land use.

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.