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

  SM1444_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004193)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a broch, an Iron Age defensive dwelling. The monument was formerly known as the Brough of Haughster, and has also been spelled Oxtrow, Oxtro and Oxtra in various descriptions since the early 19th century.

The broch stands to the W of the Stromness to Birsay road. It was excavated in 1847, and produced several burials with associated artefacts of late Iron Age or "Pictish" date, under which was found a broch. The latter is 22m in diameter, with walls 4m thick. The wall is visible, standing up to 5 courses high in a grassy field. There are several chambers within the wall thickness, and the entrance was probably from the NW side. The deposits associated with the broch were remarkable for the presence of several sherds of Roman pottery of Samian type, dating to the late 2nd or early 3rd centuries AD.

The area to be scheduled is circular, 42m across and centred just SSE of the centre of the broch, to include the broch and a small area around in which deposits related to its construction and use may survive. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a broch with proven archaeological potential. Although partly excavated, it retains great potential to provide further evidence relating to the period of the brochs and succeeding centuries, and in particular about contacts between Orkney and more distant regions.

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.