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

  SM1266_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004025)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of six barrows forming a barrow cemetery dating probably to the Bronze Age (between about 2000 and 800 BC). The barrows are visible as low, roughly circular, turf-covered earthen mounds situated in two fields separated by a modern road (four lie W of the road and two E of the road). The largest lies at the SW edge of the group: this measures 22.6m in diameter and stands about 0.5m high. Another mound lies immediately to the NNE, about 5m away, measuring around 8m in diameter. A third mound stands about 5.5m to the NNE and is 10m in diameter. About 6m further to the NNW is a fourth barrow, measuring 11.5m in diameter. On the other side of the road, and about 65m NE of the largest mound in the group, there are two further mounds, the largest of which measures 16m in diameter. The other mound lies some 16m to the ENE and is 9m in diameter. This barrow cemetery occupies a broad, low ridge running W-E, situated at around 14m above sea level, overlooking the Loch of Harray. The monument was first scheduled in 1939, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the road and 2m on either side of it to allow for its maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to understanding of funerary practice in the Bronze Age. Earthen barrows form an important and relatively widespread element of Orkney's Bronze Age landscape and are unusual in Scotland, and important within a British context, because the majority are earthen mounds as opposed to stone-built cairns. They provide evidence for significant changes which took place in society and funerary practice in the Bronze Age in Orkney. The significance of the Vetquoy barrows is enhanced by their association with other barrows nearby and their place in the wider landscape of Bronze Age burial monuments located around the Loch of Harray and N of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site. Our understanding of the form, function and distribution of Bronze Age barrows would be diminished if this monument was to be lost or damaged.

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.