Scheduled Monument

Macbeth's Cairn, cairn 360m ENE of FerneybraeSM3421

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
13/08/1974
Last Date Amended
12/02/2001
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain)
Local Authority
Aberdeenshire
Parish
Lumphanan
NGR
NJ 57818 05338
Coordinates
357818, 805338

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a cairn of prehistoric date. It stands approximately 1.2m high and is about 13m in diameter. This monument was scheduled in 1974, but the original scheduling inadequately defined the area. The monument is being rescheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 35m in diameter centred on the centre of the cairn, to include the remains of the cairn and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the monument may survive, as shown in red on the attached map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the substantial remains of a prehistoric cairn. It has the potential to provide important information about prehistoric ritual activity in this area.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as NJ50NE 10.

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: 30/07/2025 16:37