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

  SM11629_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014052)

Summary

Description

This monument comprises a Bronze Age burial cairn that is situated on a conspicuous, wooded shoulder on the SW shoulder of Meikle Tom, at an altitude of 180m OD. Several trees have been planted on and around the cairn, which is in an area of grassland and heather scrub, to the S of an area of forestry.

The cairn survives as an approximately circular, grass covered bank, around 10m in diameter and 0.6m in height. This encloses an area with a concave profile, which indicates possible excavation of the cairn in the past. A later plantation dyke, in the form of a low bank planted with mature trees, is prominent on the S and SW sides of the monument. The plantation dyke lies at a distance varying from 5-11m from the edge of the cairn. There are some stones, possibly displaced from the bank, in the interior of the cairn. Some stones from field clearance are also deposited around the perimeter of the cairn.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, centred on the cairn, to include the cairn and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: Despite possibly having been damaged by excavation in the past, many of the characteristic structural features that define this class of monument survive well and the associated archaeological deposits are also likely to be well preserved.

Contextual characteristics: The monument occupies a prominent position in the landscape with wide views. It would have had a significant place within the prehistoric landscape of the area. In the absence of any significant evidence for prehistoric settlement sites, burial cairns such as this provide tangible evidence for Bronze Age occupation of this area.

Associative characteristics: The origin of the monument's name is unknown but the Reverend Masson thought the site to have been used as the seat of a sham bishop, known as a Mummer, elected according to custom annually, who conducted a service here.

National importance: The monument is of national significance because it retains important field characteristics and there is good potential for the survival of archaeological evidence relating to its construction and use. Occupying a prominent position in the landscape, the cairn would have been a highly visible component of the prehistoric landscape in which people conducted their day-to-day activities. Prehistoric cairns such as these are therefore tangible reminders of widespread prehistoric occupation of this area even though we have yet to find any significant evidence for associated settlements. Loss of this cairn would affect our ability to appreciate and understand this landscape. Later traditions provide interesting evidence for how the relevance of this landscape feature evolved through time.

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.