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

  SM6552_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012438)

Summary

Description

The monument, known locally as "Adam's Grave", comprises a Neolithic chambered burial cairn of the "Clyde-type".

The cairn body (measuring about 9.1m by 8.2m) is heavily robbed but survives to a height of about 1m. In the centre of the mound is an almost complete chamber (3.2m long) of schist slabs, entered from the NE between two tall pillar-like portal stones. One capstone survives. This chamber had been cleared out some time before 1845 and in the early twentieth century by Bryce, but on each occasion no finds were made.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan and measures 50 m in diameter, to include the cairn and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because, despite later robbing, it retains well-preserved features characteristic of Neolithic burial monuments. As such it has the potential to provide evidence about the dating and development of every prehistoric burial practices, whilst the old ground surface which it seals is likely to contain evidence about the environment about 5,000 years ago, when the cairn was built. The cairn is also important because of its proximity (and potential relationship) to the Neolithic settlement at Ardnadam, one of the few Neolithic settlements to be recognised and excavated in southern Scotland.

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.