Scheduled Monument

Rockhill, standing stone 225m SW ofSM451

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
17/05/1939
Last Date Amended
27/02/2017
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: standing stone
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Wick
NGR
ND 33826 44731
Coordinates
333826, 944731

Description

The monument is a standing stone dating to the late Neolithic or Bronze Age (between 3800 and 2500 BC)). The lichen-covered stone stands just over 2.5m high and is 1.1m broad by 0.1m thick. The stone narrows towards its top and leans slightly to the east. At its base are smaller slab-sided stones which related to the re-erection of the stone in the past. An associated slab lies on the ground to the immediate north.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, measuring 10m in diameter, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's use and re-use is likely to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural significance

The cultural significnce of the monument has been assessed as follows:

Intrinsic Characteristics

The monument is a substantial slab-sided, sandstone standing stone surrounded at its base by up to seven smaller packing stones. The stone was recorded by the Ordnance Survey in 1871 when it was described as a flat upright stone 8 feet in height about 2 feet in breadth and about 4 inches thick. It was recorded again in 1911 when it was described as one slab protruding 1 foot 6 inches from the ground with another, 7 feet 4 inches long, set on top and held in place by smaller slabs driven into the ground. It was noted that the large slab with the base on which it was resting had been a single standing stone which had been broken and then re-erected. The disparity between the 1871 and 1911 descriptions suggests that the stone was broken and re-erected sometime between these two dates. Mapping evidence indicates that the stone was re-erected in the same location. The monument now resembles the form recorded in 1911 although it may have been re-erected again after that date, again in the same location.   

Despite the damage to the stone in the latter half of the 19th century and its subsequent re-erection, the stone appears substantially intact and remains an impressive monument in the landscape. Despite the re-erection of the standing stone, there is likely to be archaeological deposits surviving in the ground relating to its original construction and use. In some excavated examples, such as at Carlinwell, Angus (scheduled monument reference SM4315, Canmore ID 32362) inhumations or cremation burials have been found placed around standing stones and this includes skeletal material as well as urns and grave goods. Surviving environmental remains can help us understand more about the vegetation cover and land use at the time of its erection and then use.

Contextual Characteristics

Standing stones are a widespread class of monument across Scotland; Caithness has a local cluster of approximately 50 standing stones. This example sits close to the Caithness coastline and its focus appears to be towards the coast. It is approximately 3km to the northeast of a very dense area of broadly contemporary prehistoric monuments surrounding the Loch of Yarrows. The position of standing stones appears to have been deliberately chosen to take advantage of routeways, views and intervisibility with other monuments. There is potential to study this monument and its relationship to other such monuments in the landscape.

Associative Characteristics

There are no known associative characteristics which contribute to the site's cultural significance.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as an example of an individual standing stone, a type of ceremonial monument dating to the Neolithic or Bronze Age. The stone retains it field characteristics and although the stone has been re-erected, perhaps more than once, it remains in its original location. The immediate area around the stone is therefore likely to preserve associated archaeological and environmental remains that can help us understand more about its function and role in pre-historic society. The proximity of this standing stone to broadly contemporary remains in the Loch of Yarrows area and the larger group of standing stones in Caithness adds considerably its significance. Overall, the monument can enhance our understanding of social and ceremonial activities in prehistoric times, and the beliefs of the people that built and used these sites.

References

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 9020 (accessed on 1 November 2016).

The Highland Council Historic Environment Record reference is MHG 2186 (accessed on 1 November 2016).

RCAHMS, 1911, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. London.

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.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 02:35