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

  SM8441_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013343)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a trap for wild otters, or otter-house, located on the tip of a low coastal promontory.

Such traps were formerly widespread around Shetland's shores, and otter pelts were a valuable addition to local crofting incomes up until the earlier decades of the present (20th) century.

The otter-house consists of a small cairn of large stones with a hollow interior, accessed by a low, narrow doorway which was formerly furnished with a wooden door. The door closed by a counter-weighted mechanism when an otter, tempted by bait, entered the trap.

Only a few traces of the wooden elements survive, but the stone structure is in good repair, and is distinguished by the re-use of a rotary quern stone as part of its back wall - the hole in the centre allowing a clear sight into the trap.

The area to be scheduled consists only of the cairn and an area around it, a circle with an overall diameter of 2m. The area is centred on the position indicated with a red cross on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a very well preserved example of a small-specialised structure formerly widespread around northern coasts but now very scarce. It serves as a reminder of the wide range of ways in which natural resources helped to supplement the subsistence crofting lifestyle. (Despite the extensive trapping of otters before they received legal protection, Shetland remains the British stronghold of the species.)

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.