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

  SM11621_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014048)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a grass-covered cairn that is situated on the summit of a low rise, about 120m NNW of West Mains of Cairncoullie farmsteading. A track leading from the farmsteading passes close to its W side. Several mature trees are planted around the edges of the mound.

The mounds appears to have been built in at least two stages: a relatively small mound about 10m in diameter and 0.5m in height has been built on top of a low, circular mound measuring up to 25m in diameter and 1m in height. A circular plantation enclosure, comprising a bank with a shallow internal ditch, overlies the larger mound. There is an area of erosion caused by cattle on the SW edge of the larger mound.

The area to be scheduled is approximately oval in plan, to include the cairn and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: This monument is a prehistoric burial cairn likely to have been built between 3500 and 4000 years ago. The surviving remains appear to demonstrate an interesting sequence of development comprising at least two phases, with a smaller mound constructed on top of an earlier, larger mound. Despite some erosion on the SW edge of the monument, and any damage caused by tree planting, its characteristic structural features are readily visible and its associated archaeological deposits are likely to be well preserved. The monument therefore retains the potential to provide dating evidence for its various phases of use and information about how it was constructed and used. The mound is also likely to seal information about the prehistoric environment in which Bronze Age people built it.

Contextual characteristics: The form of this monument suggests it has a complicated and unusual biography. It occupies a prominent position in the landscape with wide views over the surrounding area. It would have had a significant place within the prehistoric landscape of the area.

National importance

The monument is of national significance because there is good potential for the survival of archaeological evidence relating to its construction and use, as well as the environment in which it was created. It demonstrates a phased sequence of development, important for the understanding of how the significance and function of monuments of this class changed over time. Occupying a prominent position, it would have been visible from a wide area of the prehistoric landscape in which people conducted their day-to-day activities. Its loss would affect our ability to understand this landscape.

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.