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

  SM6017_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002597)

Summary

Description

The monument is a group of later prehistoric or early historic barrows dating to between 500 BC and AD 800. The remains lie buried beneath the ploughsoil and are visible as cropmarks captured on oblique aerial photographs. The monument lies on a slight ridge south of the Moray Firth at around 25m OD.

One square and one circular barrow are clearly visible as cropmarks. The square barrow is approximately 14m in diameter surrounded by ditches approximately 1m wide while the circular barrow is smaller, only 8m in diameter. Dark internal features indicate at least one pit towards the centre of the barrows. The square barrow appears to have breaks at the corners of the ditches. Other less distinct cropmarks in the vicinity may represent the remains of further barrows or graves.

The scheduled area is square on plan, measuring 60m northeast-southwest by 60m transversely, as shown in red on the accompanying map. It 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. The monument was first scheduled in 1991, but the documentation does not meet current standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is important because of its potential to add to our understanding of burial beneath round and square barrows. Its importance is enhanced by its position within a regional cluster of barrow cemeteries. The cropmarks suggest two distinct barrow forms are present, giving potential to understand how funerary practices might change according to social status or over time. Given the rarity of square barrow cemeteries, our understanding of late prehistoric and early historic funerary practice would be diminished if this monument were lost or damaged.

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.