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

  SM13521_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014522)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a small chapel, an associated structure and enclosure, and a nearby settlement. The earliest remains are likely to be Late Iron Age or Pictish in date (possibly 7th-8th centuries AD); the chapel is likely to be Norse or early medieval (perhaps 10th-12th centuries AD). The chapel is roughly rectangular on plan, orientated WNW-ESE and measures an average of 4.5m by 3.7m internally. The S and E walls survive up to 1m high (maximum); the lower two courses of the N and W walls also survive, but are largely obscured by rubble. An entrance can be traced in the W gable. Another structure, visible as a group of upright earthfast slabs amongst a tumble of larger stones, is situated approximately 5m NW of the chapel and appears to extend beneath the chapel, indicating that it is of earlier date. These structures are enclosed by a curvilinear earth and stone bank, which arcs around the NW edge of the site. The settlement is situated approximately 80m to the SW. It survives as an amorphous heap of large tumbled stones, measuring approximately 29m NE-SW by 16m transversely, with several orthostats indicating the presence of a structure, probably a house. Previous survey recorded an entrance-façade at the S end, flanked by horn-walls, with a main chamber at the heart of the building, flanked by smaller compartments. The monument is situated in an area of level ground at around 10m above sea level, adjacent to cliffs on the SE coast of Auskerry, overlooking the North Sea.

The scheduled area is roughly oval in plan to include 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.

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, particularly the origins and development of early historic (Pictish) settlement and early ecclesiastical sites, both in Orkney and across Scotland in general. This site is of particular interest because it appears relatively undisturbed: a significant amount of material is visible on the ground surface and there is high potential for the survival of important below-ground archaeological features and deposits in and around the structures, which can add to our understanding of their origins, function and use, and the relationship between them. Its significance is enhanced by the opportunities for comparison of this site with other early historic sites, both in Auskerry and elsewhere in Orkney. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the nature of Pictish domestic architecture and settlement, the origin and development of early chapels, and the place of both in the historic 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.