Scheduled Monument
Knowe of Yesko, barrows and enclosure 250m NNE of MirbisterSM1311
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
- 31/03/1937
- Last Date Amended
- 11/12/1995
- Type
- Prehistoric ritual and funerary: barrow; enclosed cremation cemetery; enclosure (ritual or funerary rather than defensive or domestic)
- Local Authority
- Orkney Islands
- Parish
- Birsay And Harray
- NGR
- HY 31238 20830
- Coordinates
- 331238, 1020830
Description
The monument consists of a group of three Bronze Age burial monuments. Two are round barrows and the third is an enclosure, probably a cremation cemetery.
The monument is situated on a W-sloping hillside just over 75m above sea-level. The Knowe of Yesko itself is a large barrow, an earthen burial mound, about 14m in diameter and standing just under 2m high. It has been dug into, but much of its structure appears to be intact. Immediately adjacent to it is a second barrow, about 7m in diameter and only 0.4m high. 65m to the N of Knowe of Yesko is a circular enclosure formed by a stony bank, which contains many upright stones but also shows stretches of coursed drystone walling. It is 28m in overall diameter, measured across the enclosure bank, a slight external ditch and an even more slight external bank, which is only intermittently visible. The interior is raised slightly above the exterior, especially towards the N side.
The area to be scheduled is an irregular quadrilateral, bounded on the N and E by a modern fence, which is excluded from scheduling. It measures 25m on the N side, 155m on the E, 115m on the SW and 95m on the NW, to include both barrows, the enclosure and an area around and between them in which further features, and evidence relating to the construction and use of the visible remains, is likely to survive. This area is shown in red on the accompanying map.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.