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

  SM2515_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600008727)

Summary

Description

The monument comprise the remains of at least 16 hut circles and a number of associated field clearance cairns, representing a late prehistoric settlement. The monument was last scheduled in 2000. Since then there has been extensive forest clearance revealing a series of associated clearance cairns and evidence for field systems in close proximity to a number of hut circles. One previously scheduled hut circle has been destroyed without a trace. The current scheduling rectifies both issues.

The hut circles are scattered across a wide area of forest and open moor. Eleven lie within cleared areas of former forest, one on the edge of the forest and 4 in the moorland. There are 3 loose groupings. A group of 9 is scattered 700m E-W along a low rise, with the most westerly immediately beside the River Naver. A second grouping is over 1000m to the NE, with 5 hut circles located on rising ground. The third grouping, to the N and E of these, consists of 3 hut circles widely spaced along the E side of the Syre-Kinbrace road.

Individual hut circles vary from 10m to 15m in diameter, and several display expansions of the wall in the vicinity of the entrance. Entrances, where detectable, are in the SE-SW sector. A number of the hut circles, particularly in the SW grouping, have suffered from plough damage at the time the forest was established in the 1960s. There are a substantial number of field clearance cairns around and among the hut circles.

At six hut circles, centred on National Grid References NC 7013 4129, NC 7013 4173, NC 6998 4209, NC 6998 4225, NC 6902, 4063 and NC 6837 4080, the area to be scheduled is a circle 30m in diameter, centred on the centre of the hut circle. A further three hut circles, centred on National Grid Reference NC 6989 4169 are included within a group to be scheduled as a rectangle 200m NE-SW by 73m transversely, to include the hut circles and associated field clearance cairns. A further group of seven hut circles and associated field clearance cairns centred on position NC 6875 4076 are to be scheduled as an irregular shape with maximum dimensions 300m E-W and 140 N-S. The areas are marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The site is of national importance as a series of well-preserved examples of a prehistoric settlements with associated elements of field systems which have the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric settlement and agriculture.

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.