Scheduled Monument
Dunan nan Nighean,dun,ColonsaySM5226
Status: Designated
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.
Summary
- Date Added
- 22/08/1991
- Type
- Prehistoric domestic and defensive: dun; hut circle, roundhouse
- Local Authority
- Argyll And Bute
- Parish
- Colonsay And Oronsay
- NGR
- NR 41572 97602
- Coordinates
- 141572, 697602
Description
Dunan nan Nighean stands on a rocky knoll. It is a small drystone Iron Age fort with a more slightly built annex. The dun itself is D-shaped on plan, approximately 12m by 10m overall. The annex lies to the E, and is of similar dimensions. The entrance to the dun is on the E, and is well preserved, with three lintels over the passage.
The area to be scheduled includes the dun, entrance passage and annex, and a surrounding area extending up to the edge of the rock scarp on the NW, W and S, and 10m from the walls of the dun and annex on the NE, E and SE, an area measuring overall some 40m east-west by 20m north-south.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance because of the evidence that it provides, and has the potential to provide through excavation, for settlement, economy and defensive architecture in the Iron Age (c. 600 BC ' c. AD 400).
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.