Scheduled Monument

Quoyer,mound 480m NNW ofSM1335

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
25/03/1940
Last Date Amended
25/05/1993
Supplementary Information Updated
15/05/2018
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: mound (ritual or funerary rather than defensive or domestic)
Local Authority
Orkney Islands
Parish
Stenness
NGR
HY 31478 13951
Coordinates
331478, 1013951

Description

The monument lies among glacial hummocks, but is distinctly different in size and shape. A mound measuring 17.5m in diameter sits on a platform about 30m N/S by 26m E/W on the outer edge of which is a bank which survives as a rickle of small stones or as a slight hump; the platform stands about 1m above the surrounding ground.

The monument is probably an early Bronze Age burial mound, although its features suggest it is of more than one period; its platform and bank are unusual. It is set on calcareous ground and bones can be expected to survive well.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well preserved burial mound with rare and distinctive field characteristics. Its archaeological potential is high and it is of importance to the themes of relationships between Bronze Age burials and Late Neolithic ritual, and to that of burial practices throughout the Bronze Age.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as HY 31 SW 7.

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: 05/11/2026 07:45