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

  SM1999_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004663)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a broch, an Iron Age drystone fortification, with outer defensive works. The broch sits on a rocky spur, with extensive views in all directions except due E. The spur has been cut off from the natural line of approach, from the ENE, by a ditch 8m wide and now only 1m deep, although perhaps deeper when constructed. The other edges of the spur also seem to have been walled, or artificially steepened, and a gap in the steep slope on the SW may have been the original access. Within the enclosed area the broch itself is severely robbed, and now stands only some 0.6m high. However, the plan can be determined from surviving facing stones. The overall diameter is about 17m, with a central open area some 9m across. There is a mural chamber on the NE side, and this is probably a guard-cell opening off the entrance passage, although the latter is now obscured. The area to be scheduled is D-shaped, measuring a maximumn of 80m WSW-ENE by 60m. The chord of the D is to the SSE. This area includes the broch, its surrounding earthwork and an area extending 10m beyond the outer edge of the latter feature, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a broch which forms a member of a group of three lying well away from the main concentration of such fortifications in N and W Scotland. Although much reduced, and already partly excavated, it retains the potential, through excavation and analysis, to provide important information about the unresolved question of the reason for the existence of brochs so far from their normal area of occurrence.

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.