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

  SM90025_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014564)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a cup-and-ring marked rock-sheet which lies in rough pasture about 85m NNW of Ballygowan Cottage.

The decoration comprises four cups with three rings, two of them with gutters; an unusual cup with three horseshoe-shaped rings and a gutter; one cup with two rings; three cups with single rings, two with gutters; three cups with partial rings; at least forty-three plain cupmarks, some of which are artificially enlarged cracks or fissures; and several lengths of grooving. About 8m S of this rock- sheet, which is within an enclosure of iron railings, is a low ridge of rock which bears three weathered cupmarks.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular on plan and measures 25m from NNE to SSW by 20m transversely, to include the visible carvings and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is an example of well-preserved rock carving which forms part of the densest and most elaborate concentration of later Neolithic and Bronze Age rock carvings found in Scotland. The importance of the rock art of Mid Argyll has been recognised since the nineteenth century and has been the subject of several major studies. In addition, it is part of a group of contemporary ritual and funerary monuments in Kilmartin Valley, a 'ritual landscape', which has the potential to provide information about later Neolithic and Bronze Age ritual practices and, by inference, society.

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.