Scheduled Monument

Law Cairn, 300m NE of West CraigmaudSM11181

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
08/12/2005
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain)
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Tyrie
NGR
NJ 88211 59110
Coordinates
388211, 859110

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a substantial prehistoric burial cairn surrounded and contained by a modern drystone wall.

The Law Cairn is a turf-covered mound measuring about 20m in diameter and about 1.5m high. It has been damaged in the eastern segment and has had some rubbish dumped on it. However, the mound will certainly cover and contain at least one human burial, and it will probably cover a contemporary gorund surface, which could provide information on prehistoric landuse.

The area to be scheduled is a circle measuring 40m in diameter, centred on the mound, as marked in red on the attached map. The top 50cm of the track to the east is specifically excluded from the scheduling, to allow for maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a substantial prehistoric burial mound which has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of burial practices. It is of greater importance because it is substantial enough to preserve beneath it an area of prehistoric landuse.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NJ85NE 47.

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

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Printed: 31/07/2025 11:51