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

  SM8427_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013338)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a promontory fort, probably of later prehistoric date.

The monument occupies the point of a cliffed headland called The (or Da) Hevdas. Part of the remains appears to have been lost to marine erosion. A low mound of earth and stones is flanked by a bank and possible rock-cut ditch. Where this mound is cut by the top of the cliff it shows drystone walling and occupation deposits (including late prehistoric pottery) in section.

There is a small subsidiary mound immediately to the E. A few metres to the north, an earthern bank runs inland from the E cliff edge for about 10m and then swings to run NW for about 30m before merging with the hillside. The hillside to the immediate NE of the N end of the bank has been quarried. The result is a flat, lowered area to the NE of the bank, which may be a defensive ditch.

It is, however, possible that the flat area and the N part of the bank is a more recent product of quarrying, although the bank appears to be continuous with that flanking the prehistoric mound. Two low banks run from the larger bank across to the cliff on the W side, but are probably of more recent date.

The site is best interpreted as the remains of an Iron Age fort which has been modified by later stone quarrying.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, bounded by the clifftop to E, S and SW, and elsewhere by a line drawn parallel to, and 5m from, a fenceline. This includes all of the remains described, measures a maximum of 80m approximately N-S by a maximum of 45m E-W, and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a later prehistoric fort, with potential to provide information about Iron Age defensive architecture and domestic economy. It also has group importance as one of a chain of coastal fortifications, both brochs and promontory forts, along the E coast of South Mainland Shetland.

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.