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

  SM6292_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012180)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of remains of a prehistoric settlement buried beneath sand and shingle deposits, and partly overlain by coast defences, at the SW end of Dalmore Bay.

The settlement, which was partly examined in 1983-4, consists of the fragmentary remains of one or more structures, perhaps houses, set in a sedimentary layer rich in artefacts (pottery and bone predominantly) indicating a later Neolithic and early Bronze Age provenance for the site. Coast defences were constructed in 1984-5 over part of the site, sealing it beneath a built-up layer and behind sheet-piled walling. At one location, where a small stream cuts through to the coast, archaeological material continues to be sporadically revealed in the gap between two sections of the sheet-piling.

The area to be scheduled includes a portion of the upper beach and a portion of the platform created by tipping behind the recent coast defences, to encompass the identified focus and spread of archaeological deposits. This area is irregular on plan, measuring some 150m ENE-WSW and from 40m to 45m transversely. It is defined on the NNW (seaward) side by the mean high water mark of spring tides, and on the WSW by a rock face, and is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a rare settlement type of proven date and artefactual richness in a part of Scotland where settlement evidence of the period is much less common than ritual and funerary monuments. It has tested potential to contribute important information about later Neolithic and early Bronze Age domestic organisation and material culture.

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.