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

  SM10340_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013624)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of an ancient field boundary, known locally as the Green Gairsty dyke, which is located some 740m E of Langskaill and runs down a steep slope from the modern road (the B9064) to the cliff edge.

The dyke comprises a low, broad, grass-covered bank, aligned approximately N to S. The bank is mainly built of earth, but a number of earthfast slabs are exposed on its surface. Its lower end coincides with the land edge above the low sea cliffs. Its upper end coincides with the N edge of the modern road, the B9064, at c.60m OD. Between these two points, the bank comprises a series of contiguous segments that differ slightly in alignment and profile to form a sinuous meandering ground plan. The dyke is approximately 220m in length, 4m to 5m in width and stands 0.75m to 1m high.

For most of its northern length, the slightly curving bank has a reasonably conical profile and its line is accentuated by two poorly defined gullies which run parallel with and either side of the bank. The southernmost 60m length of the dyke comprises three shorter segments, with slightly more rounded profiles and less distinct adjacent gullies. A break in the dyke between the last two segments may represent an entrance or the line of a route pre-dating the present road.

Until the mid 20th century, this area was undisturbed rough pasture. The dyke is not recorded on 19th or 20th century maps and its antiquity is also suggested by the name recorded in the 1920s and still in use by local people, the 'Gairsty'. This name occurs elsewhere in Orkney and is derived from an Old Norse word (gard-stadr), associated with ancient dykes. In form, the dyke resembles the treb dykes on North Ronaldsay.

The area to be scheduled is a rectangle measuring c.207m long by c.37m wide, centred on the line of the dyke, to include the dyke and an area around in which evidence relating to its use and construction may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The fence at the edge of the modern road and all other modern structures, such as other fences, are excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a major ancient land boundary. The dyke retains the potential to provide important information on its construction, period of use, function and contemporary landscape context.

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.