Scheduled Monument

Whaness Burn, enclosure 1620m NNE of Dwarfie Stane, HoySM8664

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
28/02/2000
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: enclosure (domestic or defensive, rather than ritual or funerary)
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Parish
Hoy And Graemsay
NGR
HY 24754 01998
Coordinates
324754, 1001998

Description

The monument comprises an enclosure, annex and cairn of prehistoric date which are situated in gently sloping heather moorland to the E of the Whaness Burn on Hoy.

The enclosure measures about 17m from E to W by 14m transversely within a stony bank of large stones, which is about 2m wide. In the centre of the enclosure is a small cairn. On the E side is an annex measuring 15m from E to W by 12m transversely, formed by a slighter bank from which some stones protrude.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan and measures 60m in diameter, to include the enclosure, annex and cairn, and an area around in which remains associated with their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it comprises prehistoric structures, probably of Bronze Age date, which have the potential to provide information about prehistoric settlement and economy. Although the remains are enigmatic, their significance is enhanced as one of a group of related monuments around the Whaness Burn.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HY 20 SW 14.

Reference:

RCAHMS (1989) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Hoy and Waas, Orkney Islands Area, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 29, 13, No. 12, Edinburgh.

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to Whaness Burn, enclosure 1620m NNE of Dwarfie Stane, Hoy

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 05/11/2026 07:37