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

  SM5528_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011428)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a pre-Reformation chapel and its surrounding burial ground. The dedication is to St Fintan, the gaelic being "Cill Fhionntain". All that survives of the building are the well defined, turf-covered foundations which measure 7.6m E-W by 3m transversely within walls 0.8m thick and 0.8m in maximum height. A gap at the centre of the S wall marks the original position of the entrance.

The footings stand in the NW angle of a small D-shaped burial ground, defined on the N and W by sloping ground, and on the S and E by a curving stony bank. Although the elongated proportions of the chapel suggest a medieval date the discovery of two early Christian gravemarkers in the burial ground suggest the site was utilised at an earlier date. The area to be scheduled is rectangular, measuring a maximum of 24m E-W by 17m N-S, and bounded to the S by a modern track, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example, albeit fragmentary, of a medieval chapel that is likely to overlie an earlier building and its associated burial ground which originate in the early Christian period. As such it has the potential to provide information, through excavation and analysis, which may contribute to our understanding of the spread of the celtic church, non-scriptural dedications, ecclesiastical architecture, burial practices and material culture in Scotland from the Early Medieval to the late Medieval periods.

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.