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

  SM1282_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004040)

Summary

Description

The monument is a broch dating probably from the Iron Age (between 600 BC and AD 400). The broch is visible as a substantial turf-covered mound, roughly oval in plan with a fairly flat summit, located on a larger platform. The central mound measures 25m N-S by 20m transversely and stands up to 1.75m high. There are traces of outworks in the form of a bank and possible ditch around part of the broch, especially to the NW. The mound is expected to contain the foundations of a broch tower similar to Burrian Broch some 600m to the NNE. The monument is located on a gentle SW-facing slope at about 20m above sea level, some 2km E of the Loch of Harray. It has good views, especially to the SW over the Loch of Harray. The monument was first scheduled in 1940, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction and use is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of the post-and-wire fence that runs N-S across the centre of the monument and the above-ground elements of the post-and-wire fence that runs E-W along the S edge of the monument.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular of Iron Age society in Orkney and the function, use and development of brochs. This is an impressive example of a broch mound in a rich archaeological landscape. By analogy with excavated brochs in Orkney, this monument is likely to retain its structural characteristics to a marked degree and may have a complex development sequence: as well as the broch and its outworks, there may be earlier remains and later settlement around the broch, as on comparable sites. The monument's importance is enhanced by its probable association with Burrian Broch, situated only 600m to the ENE, and several other brochs in the Loch Harray area. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand the development, use and re-use of brochs and the nature of Iron Age society, economy and social hierarchy in Orkney and further afield.

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.