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

  SM5549_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011449)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a galleried dun, of Iron Age date, on an eroding promontory on the NE coast of Pabbay.

The dun has been partly eroded by the sea, but seems to have been a promontory rather than a circuit defence. What survives is a curved wall, running NW-SE, on the landward side of a small rocky promontory. The wall is 4.6m thick and contains in its thickness evidence for a hollow gallery. The ruined wall stands up to 2.0m high, and traces of its inner and outer face, in the form of large boulders, are visible. At the SE end of the wall is what may be one

side of an entrance passage. At the NE side of the wall, and therefore within the defended area, are traces of domestic occupation in the form of midden deposits containing pottery of probable middle Iron Age date.

The area to be scheduled consists of the whole of the promontory above the mean high water level of spring tides. The landward boundary is the lowest part of the neck of bare rock which joins the promontory to Pabbay. The area has maximum dimensions of 75m SW-NE by 65m NW-SE, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a member of the small group of galleried promontory forts in the southern part of the Western Isles which bear an as yet undetermined relationship to the much more numerous sub-circular galleried duns and brochs. Its importance is enhanced by the presence of midden deposits which offer the possibility, through excavation and analysis, of expanding our knowledge of the date and cultural affinities of this little-studied group.

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.