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

  SM90154_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014685)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of two adjacent earth houses, or souterrains, one in the care of the Secretary of State and open to the public, the second not visible, but revealed by trial excavation in 1982. Souterrains are semi-subterranean storage structures, usually dated to the Iron Age. The monument is already scheduled, and this rescheduling is required to change minor defects in the documentation. The protected area remains the same as before.

Grain Earth House (in state care) was discovered and excavated in 1827 and again in 1857. It was taken into care in 1908. It is well-preserved and has been well maintained. It lies within an iron-railed enclosure. A modern entranceway gives access to the interior, which is in two parts. A slightly curved, drystone-lined passage 5m long, 0.8m wide and 0.9m high (now deepened by the passage of many feet over the earthen floor) gives access to an oval chamber 3m long by 1.6m wide and 0.6m high, the lintelled roof of which is supported by 4 slender orthostats.

The second souterrain, sometimes referred to as Grainbank, lies immediately to the W, and is apparently of very similar dimensions, although it lies slightly higher in the earth and apparently had a slightly taller entrance passage. It was revealed in 1982 during works to create a car-park (subsequently re-planned to exclude the archaeological remains). Excavation took place only deep enough to confirm the nature of the monument. The entire structure had been filled in antiquity with earth and rubble, within which were numerous bone artefacts, including a fine weaving comb. The area has now been resurfaced and grassed over.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular, 15m WNW-ESE by 17m NNE-SSW. Its E half consists of the monument in care, its W half of a similar area including the 1982 souterrain, all as indicated in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a unique example of a proven pair of souterrains of almost identical plan, one excavated and visible to public view, the other demonstrated by excavation but still (over 95%) undisturbed. The importance of the monument is enhanced by the proven artefactual richness of the second souterrain, and by the potential afforded by its fill to examine, through study of preserved organic material, aspects of the economic basis of the settlement whch would have been associated. This pair are two of a total of at least four souterrains known from the area of one single modern farm.

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.