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

  SM10104_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013610)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a crescent-shaped mound, formed mainly of fire-shattered stones and other burnt debris, lying adjacent to a stream. This type of monument is known as a burnt mound and is likely to date from the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC. Burnt mounds represent the debris from heating water, which was done by heating up stones in a fire and then placing them in a stone tank full of water.

The mound is an irregular crescent shape. It has maximum dimensions of 20m NE to SW by 15m transversely and it stands up to 1.5m high. Its SW arm appears to have been truncated, perhaps relatively recently. At several places across the mound, there are exposures of very dark soil with sooty flecks and burnt, fire-shattered and weathered stones.

The tops of several upright slabs are just visible protruding from the surface. These define a rectangular hollow aligned NW to SE and may represent the location of a stone tank. There are indications of other structural remains occurring within the mound, with fragmentary dry-stone coursed masonry visible in places in the NW face.

The stream flowing immediately NW of the mound, which would have been the water source for activities leading to the creation of the mound, has been artificially straightened. At two places in the stream-cut profile of the NW bank, stone slabs and dark soil are exposed.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 40m in diameter, centred on the mound, to include the burnt mound and an area around it in which related remains may be expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract. The river channel and stream banks are excluded, to allow for maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a substantial burnt mound in good condition. Although partly eroded by the stream, it retains considerable potential to provide important information about the function, date and duration of use of burnt mounds, and about their place in contemporary society and economy.

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.