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

  SM10982_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013815)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a prominent turf-covered mound with numerous outcrops of coursed and collapsed masonry; it also includes a substantial stone and turf bank that partially encircles the mound and an artificial stream crossing, where several large slabs have been laid across the burn. The monument appears to represent the remains of an Iron Age broch with an outer defensive work and outlying structures. The name implies that the monument also served, at least in the relatively recent past, as a fish curing station and some elements of the remains may date to this phase of use.

The mound, representing the collapsed core of the broch, occupies a prominent knoll overlooking several rocky coastal inlets. It is now difficult to discriminate between collapsed masonry, made ground and natural sediments but it is likely that archaeological remains survive to between 1m and 2m in depth. On the S side of the mound, one of the coastal inlets has been expanded landwards by wave erosion, breaching coursed masonry and exposing archaeological sediments. The exposure lies on the outer flank of the mound and approximately 3m below its summit. The coursed masonry measures at least 1m high and appears to represent wall facings. The broch-mound is located within and towards the north-western end of the fragmentary remains of an oval enclosure measuring approximately 53m NW-SE by 32m transversely, with the broch mound located off-centre, within the western half of the enclosed ground. The enclosure perimeter is defined by an upstanding turf and stone bank on its SW, W and NW sides but is not well-defined on towards its eastern end. The bank is best preserved immediately W of the broch mound where it is 1.2m high and 2m broad. The bank is located at a distance of approximately 6m from the broch mound on this W side but reaches a maximum distance of approximately 25m on the E side. Around the mound, both within and outwith the enclosure, there are scatters and clusters of stones, including some upright, earthfast slabs, that may represent the remains of an extensive arrangement of buildings focused on the broch mound. At some time prior to 1860, the site was partially excavated and bone implements were recovered. Although the nature and extent of these early excavations are now unknown, these finds suggest that the site favours bone preservation. There are also extensive nettle beds amongst the scattered structural remains that indicate the presence of organic sediments. Approximately 45m to the NW, a group of closely-set slabs is set across the muddy channel of a shallow burn. While not forming a bridge as such, these slabs do provide a dry route across the channel for a worn path that links the broch mound to the nearest shelving beach and to the coastal lands to the NW. Although today clearly used by cattle, the proximity of this artificial crossing to the broch may indicate that the route and the slab crossing have a more ancient origin.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 105m in diameter centred on the centre of the broch mound, to include the broch, its outer defences, the laid slabs that cross the nearby burn channel and an area around the broch in which evidence relating to its construction and use and the construction and use of associated buildings may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as what appears to be a well-preserved prehistoric defended settlement which, despite partial 19th century excavation, retains a considerable potential to provide important information about later prehistoric coastal settlement 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.