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

  SM1357_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004109)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of ten or more burial mounds or barrows, forming part of a barrow cemetery dating probably to the Bronze Age (between approximately 2000 and 800 BC). The mounds are all roughly circular on plan and aligned loosely NW-SE, with an outlier to the NE. The mounds vary in diameter between 4m and 12m and survive between 0.3m and 1.25m in height. Antiquarian investigations have indicated the presence of burial structures within some of the mounds and, in one case, the remains of a stone cist from which burnt bones have been recovered are visible. The mounds are located on arable land on the SE shoulder of Ravie Hill overlooking the Loch of Boardhouse to the E, at approximately 35m above sea level. The monument was first scheduled in 1938, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduling comprises two areas: an irregular-shaped area to the E of the road and a semi-circular area W of the road, 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. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of a post-and-wire fence to allow for its maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of funerary practice in the Bronze Age. Earthen barrows form an important and relatively widespread element of Orkney's Bronze Age landscape. Despite the impact of earlier investigations, some rabbit burrowing, animal erosion and the building of the road, at least eight of the mounds are still clearly visible, and there are less clear remains of several others. We know from recent excavations of similar sites that these monuments can contain important burial remains, including cists, human skeletal material and ashes, as well as artefactual and ecofactual information about their design, construction and use and the environmental conditions at the time of their construction and use. Orkney's Bronze Age barrows are unusual in Scotland, and important within a British context, because the majority are earthen mounds as opposed to stone-built cairns. Barrows provide evidence for significant changes which took place in society and funerary practice in the Bronze Age in Orkney. This site was clearly a barrow cemetery and probably preserves evidence for a sequence of burials and related activities. The significance of the group is enhanced by its relationship with concentrations of other barrows nearby and other ritual and funerary monuments in the wider landscape. Our understanding of the date, form, function and distribution of Bronze Age barrows would be diminished if this monument was to be lost or damaged.

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.