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

  SM3666_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002586)

Summary

Description

The monument is a deserted agricultural settlement with a prehistoric souterrain, a stone-lined subterranean chamber or passage, located partially below the buildings. The monument is located on the north facing slope of Hill of Achalipster, approximately 500 m east of Strath Burn and lies at 95 m above sea level.

The settlement consists of two rows of stone buildings surviving to wallhead height in places, likely to date to the 19th century but perhaps built upon an earlier settlement.  At the east end of the eastern row stands a kiln barn; a building used to dry and store cereal. The barn is open to the stone-built circular kiln and contains features such as steps leading to the kiln drying platform, the kiln fire box and flue and an alcoved area for storing dried cereal. Further buildings adjoin the kiln barn and run to the west where a small yard links to the western row of buildings. Underlying the central building of the eastern row is the remains of a souterrain, generally understood to have been used for storage purposes. Likely to date to the middle to late Iron Age (500 BC-500AD), the curving underground structure is visible on the surface  as a depression  and exposed stone lintels. Northwest of the two rows of buildings, an enclosure, marked by low earthworks and stone and turf walls, indicates the area of the infield used for growing crops as well as for livestock corralling.

The area to be scheduled is an irregular polygon, to include the remains described above and an area in which evidence for their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the attached map. The scheduling excludes the post-and-wire fences and field drains to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a distinctive example of an agricultural settlement with 19th-century structures and related remains. It is a well-preserved site with upstanding remains and distinctive features . Particularly notable is the kiln barn with firebox, flue, integral steps to the drying platform and a storage alcove. Other well preserved aspects of the site include agricultural storage structures with internal stone partitions and evidence for cruck frame supports as well as a domestic building with an open fireplace. Beneath the 19th-century settlement there is evidence of an Iron Age souterrain indicating a potentially extended development sequence for the site. The monument has the potential to inform research into the development of agricultural settlements and practices of the time. Its loss would significantly detract from our ability to understand this monument type and interpret the contemporary economy and society that lived and worked in them, both in the Highlands and throughout 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.