Scheduled Monument

Grey Cairn,cairn & long cairnSM4672

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
22/05/1989
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain); long cairn
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Cromarty
NGR
NH 73366 62454
Coordinates
273366, 862454

Description

The monument consists of a long cairn, a round cairn and surrounding wall, and the ground between and immediately around them. The long cairn is wedge-shaped; it measures 20.5m ENE-WSW by 12m wide and 1m high at its E end and 9m wide by 0.7m high at its W end. It is composed of earth and stone. The round cairn measures about 20m NE-SW by 18m transversely and stands to about 2m.

It is composed of stones. The small cairn on its summit and adjacent robbing hole are modern. Round the cairn and measuring up to 26m across is a wallbase of large stones which is covered on the E side of the cairn by a pile of stones.

The area to be scheduled includes the long cairn, the cairn and the wallbase round it and an area between and around them in which traces of activities associated with their use may survive measuring 65m NE-SW by up to 40m transversely, with its SW side defined by but excluding the field fence as depicted in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine and unusual example of an unchambered long cairn and large round cairn next to each other. The round cairn is of particular interest because of the enclosure wall round it which may represent an earlier structure and the complex as a whole is of national importance to understanding of Neolithic and Bronze Age funerary practices.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NH 76 SW 2 and 13.

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: 08/05/2024 04:23