Scheduled Monument

Giants' Graves, long cairns, Whiting Bay, ArranSM398

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
29/07/1953
Last Date Amended
31/08/1993
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
North Ayrshire
Parish
Kilbride
NGR
NS 04311 24663
Coordinates
204311, 624663

Description

The monument comprises two chambered Clyde type long cairns of the neolithic period, some 4500 to 5500 years old. The northern cairn measures about 20m wide and 35m long (N-S), and is a maximum of 1.5m high. There is a large, well preserved chamber at the S end. There is a smaller chamber within the N end. This cairn was scheduled in 1953. Some 20m to the S lies the other cairn, which measures c 13m long (WNW-ESE) by 11m wide. A single chamber survives at the E end. Both cairns have been excavated to a limited extent but remain largely unexplored. The area to be scheduled, superseding the 1953 scheduled area, measures a maximum of 90m NNW-SSE by 50m transversely.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it represents the remains of two well preserved and substantial monuments which have the potential to provide information about Neolithic burial and ritual practices.

References

Bibliography

The monument is RCAHMS number NS 02 SW 2.

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.

Images

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Printed: 28/03/2024 21:28