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

  SM3333_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015776)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a chapel within a sub-rectangular enclosure. The chapel is visible as a rectangular stone-walled structure and the enclosure is defined by a low earth and stone grass-covered bank. A cross-incised stone is located at the entrance to the enclosure through the southwest bank. The monument is likely to date to the Early Christian period (around 550 to 900 AD) and is located on a level terrace at about 10m above sea level on the eastern bank of Loch Striven.

The chapel is rectangular on plan measuring approximately 9m northeast by southwest by 5m transversely with rubble walls standing to an overall height of 0.6m with the entrance in the northeast wall.  Internally, a large stone slab partially buried under the turf is visible at the northeast end and there is a cross-wall about 1m from the southwest wall.  The chapel is surrounded by a sub-rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 18m northeast by southwest by 16m transversely within earth and stone bank standing to an overall height of about 0.5m.  The enclosure has been reduced to a scarp on the north side.  The entrance to the enclosure is in the southwest wall and incorporates an Early Christian cross-incised stone.  The cross-slab is roughly rectangular, 0.95m by 0.58m, and on the north face is the pecked and grooved outline of a Latin cross.

The scheduled area is sub-rectangular on plan and includes the area described above and area around it in which evidence for the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.  The scheduling excludes the element of the modern fence.  The monument was last scheduled in 1974 but the documentation did not meet current standards; the present scheduling rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because of its inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of Early Christian ecclesiastical sites in Scotland.  The chapel, cross-incised stone and the surrounding enclosure are reasonably well preserved and can be expected to provide information for the origins, organisation and spread of Christianity in western Scotland during this period.  There is potential to examine in detail the chapel, its date and development sequence and its relationship with the enclosure in which it is located.  The cross-slab has the potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of early Christian art and help refine our understanding of the dating sequence and use of this site.  We can expect relatively complex archaeology will survive, perhaps including evidence for an earlier chapel and burials and potential later alterations.  The monument's significance is enhanced by the capacity to compare it with other ecclesiastical sites in Argyll.  The loss of this monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand Early Christian churches in Argyll and the role they had in the spread and organisation of Christianity in western Scotland.

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.