Documents

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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

  SM6588_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012472)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a settlement of prehistoric date, probably Bronze Age, together with several burnt mounds and a large number of later agricultural enclosures.

The best preserved settlement remains lie in the gently sloping valley around the head of the Burn of Furse. On the N side of the burn are the remains of two stone-built oval houses, while to the S of the burn lie two burnt mounds. Both of the houses has a sub-circular main compartment about 8m across with a subsidiary apartment, or annexe, about 6m across on the E side. A small platform to the SE of these houses may represent the site of a third, but has been disturbed by later construction.

The more easterly of the two burnt mounds is almost circular, about 8m across with a hollow centre. The more westerly is 14m across and stands up to 1.5m high. It has been quarried into. There are traces of field walls and clearance heaps, but the detail is obscured by peat and heather. Across a low saddle to the SW this area of settlement runs into another, which occupies the upper valley of the Burn of Vatstrass, also called Homis Dale.

Most of the obvious evidence here is of relatively recent date, consisting of many upstanding and ruined krubs (small enclosures for the growing of vegetable plants), but the soil under and around these has produced quantities of prehistoric pottery, suggesting that some of these small enclosures occupy ancient sites. In addition there is a sizeable burnt mound on the SW side of the valley, beside a spring which creates a boggy area.

The area to be scheduled is irregular. It is bounded at its NE end by the W side of the public road. It measures a maximum of 630m NE-SW by 470m NW-SE, to include both of the houses and the possible third house site, the 3 burnt mounds and surrounding land with the krub enclosures, several stretches of walling and field clearance cairns, together with an area around all of these features in which further evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a prehistoric unenclosed settlement, with considerable archaeological potential. The association of burnt mounds with houses is of particular interest, and may offer dating evidence, but this would require verification by excavation.

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.