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

  Legal Documents for Carn Glas, chambered cairn, 275m SSE of Ross Hill (SM3213)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600038942)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a chambered cairn dating to the Neolithic (4,100 BC – 2,500 BC) with evidence of reuse in the Bronze Age (2,500 BC – 800 BC). It is visible as a low mound of cobbled sized stones within which is the exposed chamber. The cairn is located on the south facing side of a ridge at approximately 125m above sea level. 

The cairn measures approximately 22m in diameter and stands about 1m high but originally would have had a covering of cairn material. The central rectangular chamber measures 3m long and 1.8m wide and is orientated east-northeast to south-southwest. It is constructed of upright slabs with the rearmost being a notably large triangular slab. The chamber is divided into two compartments reached by a passage.

The scheduled area is circular with a diameter of 70m. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Above ground elements of all current post and wire fencing are excluded to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument contributes significantly to our understanding and appreciation of the past as a chambered cairn dating to the Neolithic (4,100 BC – 2,500 BC) with evidence of reuse in the early Bronze Age and Bronze Age (2,500 BC – 800 BC). The monument was originally much larger, but much of the cairn material (cobble sized stones) has been robbed. However, the cairn retains significant structural and physical remains in the form of a burial chamber with two compartments, comprised of upright slabs, a passage and a spread of cairn material. There is also the potential for buried archaeological structures, deposits, and artefacts to survive. These can tell us about prehistoric life, in particular the development of ritual and funerary practices, diet, technology and the migration of ancient populations. It is part of a wider classification of Orkney-Cromarty passage tombs and the monument is a good representative example of its type. It is a recognisable feature in the landscape and part of a group of at least 5 cairns in the immediate area. There is the potential for these monuments to be studied together in order to better understand their distribution, development overtime, relation to their wider landscape setting and prehistoric land use. 

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.