Scheduled Monument

Cairn of Elsay, broch, StaxigoeSM532

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
24/07/1934
Last Date Amended
12/08/2005
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: broch
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Wick
NGR
ND 38715 51991
Coordinates
338715, 951991

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a partially excavated, grass-covered broch. The monument was first scheduled in 1934 but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains. The present rescheduling rectifies this.

The monument is situated close to the shore on level ground. It was excavated and planned by the late Sir Francis Tress Barry in the early 20th century. It is 18m in diameter, has a wall 4.8m thick and stands to a maximum height of 2.7m. The entrance, in the SE, is 0.7m wide, its walls exposed to a height of 1.2m at the outer end.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of diameter 50m centred on the centre of the broch, to include the broch and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as the remains of an Iron Age broch which, as the partial excavation demonstrates, continues to offer the potential to provide important information on the nature of settlement and defensive architecture during this period of prehistory.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as ND 35SE 6.

References:

Batey C E 1981, CAITHNESS COASTAL SURVEY 1981: INTERIM REPORT, TYPESCRIPT, Durham, No. 152.

Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1909, 'DONATIONS TO AND PURCHASES FOR THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY, WITH EXHIBITS', Proc Soc Antiq Scot 43, 17

RCAHMS 1911, THIRD REPORT AND INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE COUNTY OF CAITHNESS, Edinburgh, HMSO, 162-3, No. 521.

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: 23/04/2024 23:32