Scheduled Monument

Skara Brae, settlement, mounds and other remainsSM90276

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
27/03/1928
Last Date Amended
02/02/2004
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: field or field system; settlement (if not assigned to any more specific type), Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cist; mound (ritual or funerary rather than defensive or domestic)
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Parish
Sandwick
NGR
HY 23223 18688
Coordinates
323223, 1018688

Description

This scheduling amalgamates and extends two existing schedulings. Its area covers the Neolithic village at Skara Brae, nearby remains of structures and activity areas of similar date, a large mound containing a succession of prehistoric and early medieval structures, and an area in which related remains are likely to survivve, including ancient soils and field systems.

The remains covered by the scheduling include: the well-preserved village at Skara Brae with remains including walls, stone furniture, archaeological layers and a slaughtering floor partially revealed by excavation to its west; the large mound partially truncated by coastal erosion to reveal walls and burials some 150m to its west; together with prehistoric and medieval or later soils and other traces of ancient activities under the modern topsoil and sand to the west, south and east of Skara Brae. It includes a sand-covered tumulus SW of Voydale. It also includes a previously unscheduled area between dry land and the Mean Low Water Springs within which remains of ancient land survive, and a previously unscheduled area, including a mound on the NW raised bank of the stream north of Voydale, in which ancient soils and other remains will survive. It excludes the above-ground parts of all modern buildings, field walls and fences above ground level, and the upper levels of all modern built paths.

The area to be scheduled extends from west to east from the SW corner of Skaill Bay to the fence running NW by SE to the north of the stream or lade north of Voydale, and from north to south from the Mean Low Water Springs to the farm road west of Skaill, measuring a maximum of 582m from its easternmost to its westernmost point, and 370m from its northernmost to its southernmost point, as outlined in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it includes a remarkably well preserved neolithic settlement and associated remains, in addition to the remains of later periods. These remains, part of which are designated a World Heritage Site, have the potential to provide high-quality evidence for settlement, burial and environment from the early prehistoric to Viking and later periods.

References

Bibliography

Skara Brae and related sites in its immediate vicinity.

RCAHMS records: HY21NW 12.00, HY21NW 12.01, HY21NW 12.02, HY21NW 12.03, HY21NW 13, HY21NW 16, HY21NW 30.02, HY21NW 30.00, HY21NW 30.02, HY21NW 30.01, HY21NW 39, HY21NW 41.

References:

Childe V G and Paterson J W 1929, 'Provisional report on the excavations at Skara Brae, and on finds from the 1927 and 1928 campaigns', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT, Vol. 63,

225-80.

Childe V G 1930a, 'Operations at Skara Brae during 1929' PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT, Vol. 64.

Childe V G 1931a, 'Final report on the operations at Skara Brae', PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT, Vol. 65.

Childe V G, 1950a, ANCIENT DWELLINGS AT SKARA BRAE, ORKNEY, Edinburgh.

Clarke D and Maguire P 1996, SKARA BRAE, Historic Scotland guidebook.

RCAHMS 1946, TWELFTH REPORT WITH AN INVENTORY OF THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF ORKNEY AND SHETLAND, 3v Edinburgh: HMSO, 254-9, No. 683.

Clarke D V 1976a, THE NEOLITHIC VILLAGE AT SKARA BRAE, ORKNEY: 1972-3 EXCAVATIONS: AN INTERIM REPORT, Edinburgh.

Historic Environment Scotland Properties

Skara Brae

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/skara-brae

Find out more

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.

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Printed: 29/03/2024 10:42