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

  SM2965_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015821)

Summary

Description

The monument is a chambered cairn probably dating from the Late Neolithic to Bronze Age (around 3800 to 2500 BC). It comprises an exposed central chamber with large side slabs and a displaced capstone, a cist, and the remains of stone cairn material. The cairn is located within mixed woodland and lies around 160m above sea level.

The cairn is of Orkney-Cromarty type, a diverse group distributed across northern Scotland and the Orkney Isles. Almost circular on plan and measuring approximately 29m in diameter, the edge of the cairn is delineated by a band of cairn material, evident for most of the circuit, with some stones possibly providing evidence for an outer kerb. At the centre of the cairn, a group of large stones form a polygonal chamber measuring 9m east-west by 4m transversely. The chamber is almost complete and is defined by earthfast side slabs, with evidence for internal division into two compartments. A substantial capstone, now dislodged, formed the roof of the chamber.  Approximately 2m northwest of the chamber, a stone cist is formed within the cairn. It consists of four side slabs and measures approximately 1.4m by 0.9m. The monument is located on a gradual southeast-facing slope which runs to the coast and estuary some 6km southeast. The site, if not forested, would have open views over the coastal plain and across the Cromarty Firth.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, centred on the monument and measures 50m in diameter. The scheduled area 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 post and wire fence running across the monument is excluded from the scheduling. The monument was first scheduled in 1970, 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 design and construction of burial monuments, and the nature of belief systems and burial practices during the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age in Ross and Cromarty. The cairn is an impressive structure with good field characteristics, allowing us to interpret its form, function and position in the landscape. Architectural features such as the remains of a polygonal, multi-compartment central chamber are notable while the presence of a stone cist is an unusual and significant feature. There are numerous other cairns in the vicinity of the monument, which together can contribute to our understanding of the nature of the pre-historic landscape.  This is important for enhancing our understanding of Late Neolithic and Bronze Age society. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand funerary practice, death and burial in prehistoric times, and the placing of such monuments within the landscape.

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.