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

  SM1242_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004002)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a substantial settlement,

partly in the form of a large mound, lying above the shore to the SW

of Housebay.

The most prominent part of the monument is an elongated mound, the

Benni Cuml itself, measuring 70m NE-SW by 18m, and up to 1.8m high.

It has been eroded by the sea and part of a massive curved wall,

rather like that of a broch, may be seen in the shore section. At

least one chamber exists in the mound. The settlement has extended

over a larger area than that of the mound alone, as there are traces

of structural walls appearing through the turf on the flat area

around the mound.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in plan, bounded on the NW by

the field wall (which is not included in the scheduling) and on the

SE by the high water mark. It measures 90m NE-SW by a maximum of 35m,

to include the mound and an area around it in which further traces of the settlement are likely to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a very substantial prehistoric settlement which is likely to be of Iron Age date, either a broch with external settlement or something closely related. It has the potential, through excavation and analysis, to provide information relating to the pattern and development of later prehistoric settlement in northern Scotland, and to Iron Age domestic and agricultural organisation 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.