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

  SM13524_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014524)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a promontory fort, dating probably from the Iron Age (between about 500 BC and AD 800) and probably re-used in the Norse period (between about AD 800-1200). The promontory fort is defended on the landward side by three substantial earthen banks, each measuring 2m-3m wide and standing up to 0.5m high, and two ditches; on all other sides it is defended by steep cliffs. The promontory covers an area approximately 150m N-S by 40m E-W and contains the footings of at least ten rectilinear buildings, laid out in regular lines. The monument is situated on the W coast of South Ronaldsay, towards its S end, overlooking the Pentland Firth at around 20m above sea level.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan and includes 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 above-ground elements of all post-and-wire fences to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to our knowledge and understanding of later prehistoric and early medieval settlement and society in Orkney and Scotland. It has high potential to enhance our understanding of a relatively rare class of monument, and specifically, the origins, form, development and function of promontory sites. The monument retains important field characteristics, notably the earthen ramparts and ditches on the landward site, which make it an impressive example of a fort, and the regularly aligned rectilinear buildings which are similar to those on the Brough of Deerness, an important Norse settlement. The promontory appears undisturbed, which suggests there is high potential for the survival of important archaeological deposits and features which can enhance our understanding of settlement, society and economy from the Iron Age through to the Norse period. It offers high potential to compare changes in settlement character over time and to examine the functions of promontory sites during different periods. Our understanding of the distribution and character of later prehistoric defended sites and early medieval settlement 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.