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

  SM10628_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013729)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a fort of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding structural remains. Forts of this type are characteristic of the Iron Age (about 500 BC to AD 500).

The monument is situated at approximately 10m OD and occupies a narrow promontory that forms the NW part of the island of Eilean nan Damh, Mull. The fort may be approached with relative ease across level ground on the SSE, but on all other sides there are sheer rock cliffs up to 10m in height. The promontory comprises an roughly leaf-shaped area measuring some 38m from N to S by 19m transversely, which has been cut off by a boulder-faced rubble-cored wall, drawn across the neck of the promontory and continued a little way along either flank.

The wall has been reduced by stone-robbing to a grass-grown stony bank about 3m thick and 0.8m high, in which only a short stretch of outer facing-stones and parts of the side-walls of the entrance-passage can still be seen. The entrance, which is centrally placed on the neck of the promontory, is about 1m wide and does not appear to have been checked for a door. The fort interior is level, with no obvious sign of internal features.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is irregular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 49m NNW-SSE by 19m E-W, as marked in red on the accompanying map. It is bounded on the south by a modern field wall, which is itself excluded from the scheduled area; and defined on all other sides by the foot of the natural cliff.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric defended settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

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.