Scheduled Monument
Lynchat, souterrain 550m WNW of, KingussieSM925
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
- 30/09/1934
- Last Date Amended
- 30/09/1996
- Supplementary Information Updated
- 16/03/2021
- Type
- Prehistoric domestic and defensive: settlement (if not assigned to any more specific type); souterrain, earth-house
- Local Authority
- Highland
- Parish
- Alvie
- NGR
- NH 77671 1947
- Coordinates
- 277671, 801947
Description
This monument consists of a very well preserved prehistoric souterrain (underground passage) and surrounding setlement remains, located on sloping ground. The souterrain is already scheduled, but this proposal extends the protected area to include the surrounding remains.
The souterrain is U-shaped in form and entirely subterranean. It is about 25m long and has an entrance in the NW. The entrance area is largely infilled but the lintel of the entrance passage is still visible. The central section has lost its roofing slabs and parts of the side walls, but the N end of the souterrain retains its roof. The passage is around 1.3m wide and up to 2.2m high. The walls and roof of the structure are very substantial. Traces of earthworks in the area around the souterrain may relate to a settlement site contemporary with its use.
The area to be scheduled is rectangular on plan, aligned N-S and measures 55m E-W by 60m N-S, to include the souterrain, earthworks around it and an area beyond in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the souterrain may survive.
Statement of National Importance
This monument is of national importance as a very substantial and well preserved souterrain, which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of prehistoric domestic life and architectural practice.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.
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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.