Scheduled Monument

Crab's Cairn, cairnSM4060

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
23/12/1977
Last Date Amended
16/07/2002
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain)
Local Authority
Aberdeen
Parish
Aberdeen
NGR
NJ 96325 3750
Coordinates
396325, 803750

Description

The monument comprises a circular burial cairn, which measures some 14m in diameter and stands c.1.5m in height. The monument was first scheduled in 1977, but the boundary of the scheduled area was unclear: the present re-scheduling rectifies this.

This stone-built, roughly circular burial cairn is situated on Tullos Hill, towards the end of an elevated ridge, at c.68m OD, with a view over Nigg Bay. It has been damaged by wartime installations, but measures some 14m in diameter and stands c.1.5m in height. The cairn comprises a mound of stone of varying size. A short cist containing an urn was found in the cairn in the late 18th century. Another three cairns are located within the close vicinity, indicating that this monument may form part of a relict prehistoric funerary landscape.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of diameter 40m centred on the centre of the cairn, to include the cairn and an area around it in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a prehistoric funerary monument which may form part of a relict prehistoric landscape. It has the potential to provide important information about Bronze Age funerary and ritual practices.

References

Bibliography

The monument is RCAHMS number NJ 90 SE 4.

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 16:41