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

  SM9674_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013575)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a large penannular enclosure of prehistoric date, visible as a sub-circular cropmark on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument is situated in a grass field and straddles a low ridge running NNW-SSE at about 20m O.D. overlooking Maes Howe and Loch of Harray. The enclosure is sub-circular with a diameter of about 70m. For most of its circumference it is defined by a single, narrow ditch, but a gap in the SSE probably represents the entrance. The ditch appears to bifurcate to either side of this entrance, with a pronounced terminal at the end of each arm of the opposed elements of the ditch at this point. Throughout most of its circumference the crop-mark of the ditch is sharply defined.

The ditch can be traced at the ground surface to the W of the entrance where about 35m of a slight curving ditch is faintly visible, measuring approximately 3m wide with its inner scarp more pronounced than its outer. Crop-mark features within the enclosure are visible but these are not distinct. However, one concentration of features, measuring approximately 15m in diameter, appears close to the centre of the enclosure and may represent the sub-surface remains of a penannular construction.

The area to be scheduled is circular in shape, with a diameter of 90m to include the crop-marked enclosure and an area around within which evidence relating to its 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 of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric enclosure sites relating to either funerary and ritual practices or prehistoric settlement and economy.

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.