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

  SM5626_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011524)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a souterrain, an artificial cave known as the "Cave of Oars" (Gaelic "Uamh nan Ramh").

The souterrain is situated above Churchton Bay, on parkland about 250m SE of Raasay House. It is formed by a cleft between two parallel rock outcrops with the intervening space roofed with stone slabs and compacted over with earth and turf. It was traditionally used for the safekeeping of oars used in galleys. It has recently been excavated having been used as a depositry for refuse for several centuries.

The linear passageway is aligned E-W and the E entrance is 1.2m wide and 1.8m high, the W opening is smaller, only 1m wide and 0.8m high. The passage is about 17m in length. Part of the central section of the slabbed roof has fallen (10m from the E entrance) and two of the slabs over the E entrance have been removed during excavation operations and now lie 2.6m to the SE of the E entrance. These slabs lie within the faintly discernible footings of a subrectangular building.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular, measuring a maximum of 20m NW-SE by 10m NE-SW, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a site of human activity and likely occupation, providing deposits which may help to fix the date of construction. It is likely to have been built at some time between the early and middle Iron Age, although it may have continued to be in use into later periods. The precise nature and chronology of the structure may be determined through a combination of historical research and archaeological investigation.

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.