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

  SM90219_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014745)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of the chambered cairn at Midhowe and associated remains.

The chamber and the area round the cairn have been partly excavated and the monument is laid out for public access. In addition to the remains of the cairn itself, this extended scheduling includes the remains of a pair of prehistoric walls which may form part of an enclosure springing from the NE and SE corners of the chambered cairn, and also remains known to exist between the cairn and the cliff face including excavation spoil and also underlying layers of soil, some of them containing charcoal and flints. It also includes remains associated with its construction and use which will survive nearby.

The boundary of the area to be scheduled is 40m NNW of the NNW end of the building housing the chambered cairn and parts of the prehistoric walls referred to above, 40m ENE of the ENE side of the building and, to the SSE landward of the modern wall running NNW-SSE from the building, the boundary runs along but excludes the modern field wall which runs SW-NE some 40m SSE of the centre of the SSE end of the building, and seaward it runs along an extension to the SW of the line of that wall; the boundary to the WSW is the sea cliff, all as marked on the attached map.

The scheduling excludes the gravel and paving in, and the above-ground fabric of, the modern building which shelters the cairn, and the modern field wall running round the building and extending NNW and SSE of it above the modern ground surface, but includes the foundations of the modern building and parts of field walls below the ground surface.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its importance to understanding of Neolithic and later burial and ceremonial rituals. Its importance is recognised by its status as a monument in the care of the Scottish Ministers.

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.