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 Loch Eye,enclosures on submerged shoreline (SM3490)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600039073)

Summary

Description

The site comprises a group of at least 20 circular and sub-circular features surviving as submerged features around the north and south shoreline of Loch Eye. It is suggested that the monument comprises a mix of natural and man-made features.  

Statement of National Importance

The cultural significance of the site has been assessed as follows: 

Intrinsic Characteristics 

At least 20 relatively small circular, sub-rectangular stone and linear features were observed during a dry period in 1972 around the shore of Loch Eye. These features are now generally submerged below the loch's waterline. The features are between two and five metres in diameter (between three and four metres across for the sub-rectangular examples). Narrow stone causeways have been observed at some of these features, connecting them to the shore. The origins and function of these features remain unclear. Various suggestions have been made including prehistoric round houses, fowling hides or bothies, and flax retting ponds. 

A recent review of available aerial imagery has rejected the original interpretation that they were prehistoric round houses because of their very small size. Instead, some are likely to be artificial stone heaps, possibly fishing stands and/or the result of clearance activities. Other features are scooped in nature, perhaps the result of small-scale gravel extraction, while some may be the result of natural processes. 

Contextual characteristics 

The group of remains and their distribution around the shoreline of Loch Eye are interesting. It is possible they represent various quarrying, fishing and clearance activities, however there is no evidence indicating they are the remains of prehistoric settlement. There is insufficient evidence to confirm the nature of these activities or their date. The wider, contemporary context of these features cannot, therefore, be determined. 

Associative characteristics 

There are no known associative characteristics that significantly contribute to the national importance of this monument. 

National importance

The site does not meet the criterion of national importance. It retains some structural attributes likely representing a mix of fishing stands, gravel extraction scoops and natural features. These are of unknown date but may be relatively recent. Such features are not of national importance – they are not rare, they have limited research potential and although they may have the potential to add to our understanding of land use in this area, this makes a limited contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past.

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.