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

  SM6906_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012631)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a broch and its outwork, the former exhibiting at least two phases of construction, which occupy the summit of a low rocky hill, together with a rock displaying cup markings. The broch stands on the summit of Dun Mor a'Chaolais, a low rocky hill dominating the NE end of Tiree.

The hill is not steep and provides only limited natural protection. A number of later structures have been constructed over the site of the broch and its outworks, and modern field boundaries cross the site.

The broch measures approximately 12m in internal diameter, with a wall originally about 3.7m thick. However, the wall has been widened to approximately 5.8m in thickness by the subsequent addition of an external revetment on all sides. Such a widening of the wall can be parallelled in two brochs on Mull. Part of the facework from each phase of work can be distinguished, and the character of the build differs considerably.

Both phases of work are of dry-stone construction. The stone has been heavily robbed, probably for the construction of the field walls which cross the site. The broch entrance passage can be recognised on the NW, as can part of an intramural gallery about 0.8m wide within the SW quadrant of the broch, and a small mural chamber (together with traces of a possible second one) within the SE quadrant.

The ruined foundations of a later rectangular building immediately to the SW of the entrance passage may cover another such chamber. The SW part of the broch is relatively well preserved, up to 1.5m high, although the NE part has been more intensively cultivated and is more denuded.

The broch is surrounded by an outwork which may curve inward to meet the outer face of the main structure on the W. It was entered from the S, but another entrance may have existed to the N. It is preserved up to 1.6m in height although, like the broch, the SW half is better preserved than the NE. The outwork is approximately oval on plan, and measures over 50m N-S. It extends up to 18m from the outer face of the broch.

Approximately 27m W of the broch, on the edge of a rock outcrop, is a group of at least 7 cup markings, the largest about 80mm in diameter.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 100m in diameter, centred on the broch, as defined in red on the enclosed map, and it includes the broch and its outwork, the cup-marked rock and the later structures. The scheduling excludes the above-ground structures of both the OS triangulation station and of modern fences.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because the broch is a well-preserved field monument which exhibits a range of architectural details. It has the potential to provide information about later prehistoric architecture and the nature, organisation and development of Iron Age society.

The associated cup-markings indicate that the rocky hill on which the broch is situated was also the site of earlier prehistoric activity: such carvings are rare in the Argyll islands, although they are likely to relate to the internationally significant examples on the Argyll mainland.

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.