Scheduled Monument

Loch Beag na Furalachd, cairn and shielings 1175m ESE of SW endSM5081

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
02/10/1991
Type
Secular: barn; house; settlement, including deserted and depopulated and townships; shieling
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Lairg
NGR
NC 59855 14908
Coordinates
259855, 914908

Description

This monument consists of two elements. At NC59791501 on a small knoll is a prehistoric cairn composed of rubble stones and partly turf covered. The cairn measures about 9.5m in diameter and is 0.4m high. There are possible traces of a kerb to the south of the cairn. Two later irregularly shaped enclosures have been added to the NE and SW of the cairns. These enclosures may be contemporary with the Post medieval settlement to the SE, which forms the second main element.

There are at least 8 foundations surviving in the forestry clearance. Circular and oval structures predominate on this site and include one well defined circle of stones. Sub-rectangular and irregular structures also occur. The building foundations vary from 9m by 5m to 33m by 12m and represent the remains of buildings of Post Medieval date.

They would appear to represent part of a 'cottar town', many of which were destroyed during the clearances of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The area proposed for scheduling is a maximum of 370m E-W by 190m N-S, to include the prehistoric cairn and the shieling buildings, as shown in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

Both elements of this site are of national importance. The cairn incorporates information on burial and ritual practices of the Neolithic or Bronze Age. In addition it will incorporate important information on the structure of kerb cairns. The Post Medieval settlement is of national importance as it is well preserved and incorporates evidence for domestic life and agriculture. The settlement is also of potential significance for an understanding of the process of clearance in this area of the Highlands. The site is one of an important group of Post Medieval settlements to the north of Lairg.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

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: 28/03/2024 17:09