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

  SM90157_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014688)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of an Iron Age defended settlement centred upon a broch and situated on the promontory of Aikerness.

The site was excavated from 1929 and has been laid out for visitors. It is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Gurness is a complex monument of many phases, constructed over the last centuries BC and the early centuries AD. The monument takes the form of a large semi-circular platform encircled by a triple line of ditch and rampart. On the seaward, N, side these defences have been truncated by the sea.

On the platform, off-centre towards the W, stands the remaining 4m of a broch, while to the S and E are the

remains of a cluster of small houses and yards. The entrance to the platform is aligned with the entrance to the broch and is from the E. The terminals of the outer ditches have been particularly carefully faced with stone, and there is a clearly ceremonial appearance about

the approach.

There is evidence for several phases of construction,

and in particular the ditches and ramparts appear to have become gradually obsolete as defensive elements over time, being reduced and in places partly infilled. A later group of small buildings, probably of fifth century date AD, has been moved and reconstructed to the W of the main complex.

The area to be scheduled is that contained within the boundary fence, and measures a maximum of 115m E-W by 75m N-S to include the broch, its external and internal buildings, the ramparts and ditches and an area around and between them in which evidence relating to the construction and use of the monument may be expected to survive.

It also includes the group of buildings which has been moved but excludes the visitor centre and the area beneath it as they exist at the date of scheduling. The area to be scheduled is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the finest example of a broch and external settlement so far excavated. The length of the sequence of structures and deposits and their inter-relationship afford a quite exceptional opportunity for study of the developing structure of Iron Age society as well as for the development of architectural techniques.

Although subsequently excavated, there are considerable areas as yet undisturbed which can be expected to contain important evidence to supplement and extend that already gathered, with particular potential for an understanding of the agricultural and domestic economy of the period. Gurness is arguably the single most important excavated Iron Age site in northern Scotland.

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.