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

  SM90207_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014734)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an area of Machrie Moor in which a rich archaeological landscape of prehistoric ritual and domestic structures and deposits is known to survive, both above and below the ground, including stone circles, chambered cairns, hut-circles and field systems.

The best known part of the monument is a group of six stone circles (in the care of Secretary of State) in the NE part of the complex. Excavations in 1985-6 demonstrated that elaborate timber circles (erected about 2300 BC) preceded two of the stone circles, which were constructed about 550 years later. Accompanied cremations were later placed in the centre of the circles. Nineteenth-century excavations

at the two tallest stone circles recorded central burials in stone cists accompanied by food vessels.

Different combinations of sandstone slabs and granite were carefully arranged to create the circles. Excavation has demonstrated that early neolithic activity (about 3500 BC) took place in this area, and extensive neolithic ritual and domestic featres are likely to survive, sealed by the

peat, in addition to the two chambered cairns. Hut circles and field system remains, probably of Bronze Age date, are found throughout the area to the scheduled.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures up to 1150m from SSW to NNE by 1060m transversely, to include all the upstanding features and an area around in which associated remains are likely to survive, as marked in red in the attached map extract. The above-ground portion of the modern memorial stone is excluded.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a particularly well-preserved landscape of Neolithic and Bronze age ritual and domestic monuments. The grouping of stone circles is rare and suggests that this was a ceremonial centre serving the inhabitants of the fertile Machrie basin, if not Arran as a whole. Excavation suggests that extensive multi-period remains are likely to survive beneath the peat.

This area therefore has the potential to provide information about the development of early prehistoric society, its use of ceremony, burial rites, domestic architecture, agricultural practice and social organisation over several thousand years. The stone circles have special importance because of their place in the national consciousness.

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.