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

  SM10496_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013675)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a crannog, or artificial islet, of probable prehistoric date, visible as a stone mound sited within a loch.

The monument lies towards the NW end of Loch Ba, some 90m from the W shore. It comprises a large mound, roughly oval in plan and measuring 25m E-W by 30m N-S at its base, which appears to be composed entirely of loose boulders and medium-sized stones.

The base of the mound sits on bedrock and it rises 3m above the surrounding loch bed. The summit of the mound is crowned by a circular platform measuring some 21m E-W by 23m N-S. Water 5m in depth surrounds the site and there is no evidence of walling or a causeway.

The date of the crannog is not known, although it is most likely to be prehistoric in origin. In the mid 16th century, this island was described as an "inhabited stronghold", but it does not appear as an inhabited site on Pont's map of the last quarter of the 16th century.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is circular in shape, with a diameter of 50m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric and later settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by the possibility that it may be a multi-period site, occupied also in the later medieval period. In addition, crannogs frequently preserve important palaeoenvironmental evidence and rare organic materials (such as wood, leather and plant remains) because of the waterlogged nature of the deposits.

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.