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

  SM7666_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013119)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a broch, an Iron Age fortified residence.

The remains of Balta broch lie on a rocky promontory just S of the inlet called Geo of the Brough, facing E on the E side of Balta, the island which shelters the entrance to Balta Sound, one of the safest anchorages in Shetland. The broch has been of the usual near-circular plan, although the outer wall face has been somewhat eroded, and is everywhere reduced to its basal courses. The overall diameter has been about 15.3m, with an internal diameter of 7.2m.

The wall thickness varies markedly, being thickest (4.9m) at the entrance, which is on the WSW of the wall circuit. At this point an inner wall, about 1.3m thick, has been built along the inner face of the broch wall, but the detail is obscured by a later watch-house, itself ruined, which has been built over this portion of the remains. There are very slight suggestions of turf-covered foundations of further structures on the landward side of the broch.

The area to be scheduled consists of the broch and the land around it in which further remains may survive, comprising the entire extent, above high water mark, of the promontory. It is bounded on the WSW by a line running along the lowest part of the rocky neck and elsewhere by the shoreline. It measures a maximum of 75m E-W by 40m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved example of an Iron Age broch with associated later structures, in a particularly exposed location. The monument has the potential to provide important information about the purpose and function of brochs and about the economic and social life of their inhabitants.

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.