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

  SM1243_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004003)

Summary

Description

The monument is a burial cairn of Orkney-Cromarty type, dating from the Neolithic period (fourth to third millennium BC). It is visible as a roughly circular grass-covered mound, approximately 16m in overall diameter and standing up to 1.2m high. The cairn was partly excavated in 1861 and re-excavated in 2002 and much of its internal structure is still visible ' a central passageway, with upright slabs and the compartment spaces. The cairn has two major phases of construction. The original tomb was oval in shape and measured approximately 7m by 5m. After it had fallen into disrepair, it was incorporated into a larger cairn around 16m in diameter and 'monumentalised' by the addition of three concentric stone revetments. A passageway, 2m long by 0.5m wide, enters the cairn from the SSE. It leads to a central chamber, 2m long by 1.4m wide. There are five side chambers symmetrically arranged around the central chamber, all of which are 1.3m long by 0.9m wide. The cairn is situated on a gentle SE-facing slope at approximately 25m above sea level, overlooking the Ness of Brodgar. The monument was originally scheduled in 1938, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, 30m in diameter, centred on the monument. The scheduling includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the top 30cm of the surface of the farm track to the NW of the cairn and the above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has inherent potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the past, in particular the design and construction of burial monuments, and the nature of belief systems and burial practices in Neolithic Orkney. Bookan chambered cairn lies in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Area and is an important component of the wider prehistoric landscape. Burial cairns are often focal points and can inform our understanding of prehistoric land-use and social organisation. Although partly excavated, the Bookan chambered cairn retains its structural characteristics to a marked degree and there is high potential for the survival of further important archaeological evidence. It is also important as a type-site in the established typology of chambered cairns. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the meaning and importance of death and burial in prehistoric times and would impact on our understanding and the overall integrity of the exceptionally rich landscape of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Area.

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.