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.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM514-Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600015817)

Summary

Description

The monument is a broch, a type of complex Atlantic Roundhouse which is a drystone dwelling dating to the Iron Age (between 600BC and AD 400). The broch is visible as a substantial grassy mound with exposed interior walls, located on a flat-topped low rise of ground 225m north of Achiegullan Burn at around 45m above sea level.

The broch measures approximately 18m in external diameter and 10m internally.  The interior walls survive to a height of 1.7m and there is an entrance at the east-southeast. The entrance passage contains two opposing door checks, set 1.25m in from the outer wall face, and there is evidence for a blocked doorway or cell on the north face of the passage, just behind the door check. Inside the broch, on the east wall face, there is a blocked doorway to an intramural stair or cell. There is evidence for possible outbuildings or related structures surviving in the substantial grassy mound surrounding the broch. The monument is surrounded by a 19th- century house and woodland but would have had fairly open views across the low-lying landscape towards Sandside Bay, 2.2km to the northwest.

The scheduled area is sub-circular on plan and includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The above ground elements of the modern wall, post and wire fence, local signage and the top 150mm of the path are excluded from the scheduling. The monument was first scheduled in 1938, but the documentation did not meet current standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of Iron Age society in Caithness and the function, use and development of brochs. Achvarasdal is an upstanding and well-preserved example of a broch located close to a number of potentially contemporary broch sites in the area. It displays key architectural details within its interior such as an entrance passage with door checks and blocked doorways to intramural features. There is high potential for the preservation of related structures and deposits in the largely undisturbed mound surrounding the broch. The loss of the monument would diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand the development, use and re-use of brochs, and the nature of Iron Age society, economy and social hierarchy in Caithness and further afield.

References

Bibliography

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.