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

  SM5229_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011132)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of three prehistoric hut circles, the remains of a post medieval building and part of the field system of a post medieval settlement. Hut 'A' is set into a low spur and is 7.5 by 6.5m with a wall 0.3m high and 2.5m wide. A simple entrance is visible on the SE. A later turf covered dyke, associated with an early modern settlement, skirts the hut on its NW. Hut 'B' is on a low spur above the W bank of the Dunbeath Water.

This hut is 8m in diameter with a wall about 2m wide and 0.4m high. The E portion of this hut has been destroyed through erosion by the Dunbeath Water. Traces of internal divisions within this hut may indicate that it was an aisled round house. Hut 'C' is on a S facing slope and is 7.8m in diameter within a wall 2.2m thick and 0.5m high. The entrance appears to have been on the SW. This hut has a stone built wall defining a small annex to the W.

Faint traces of possible contemporary cultivation occur to the S and W of hut C. At ND09373370 are the foundations of a rectangular building 10m by 4m in size. This is a post medieval building which is associated with the system of

enclosures and field walls to the W of Achnaclyth.

The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 540m E-W by 380m N-S. The area of the sheep pens to the SW is excluded. The area to be scheduled includes the prehistoric round houses, the post medieval building and field system, as shown in red on the attached plan.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric and post medieval settlement and the process of the Clearances in this area of Highland Scotland. The hut circle settlement incorporates important information on the domestic organisation and agricultural activities of a prehistoric community.

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.