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

  SM396_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600003300)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a Neolithic chambered cairn and standing stone. The monument was originally scheduled in 1953 and was rescheduled in 1963, but the area covered by the designation did not relate accurately to the remains on the ground. The current rescheduling rectifies this.

The monument is situated in a forestry clearing on a lower SW facing slope of the Clauchland Hills at around 90m OD. This cairn lies only some 200m SW of the chambered cairn of Dunan Mor, although the latter is not visible from Dunan Beag because of the undulation of the hillside.

The monument comprises a heavily robbed Clyde-type long cairn. It was more complete when seen by Pennant in 1772: 'it was large, of an oblong form, and composed ... of round stones ... at one end of the cairn are several great stones, some extending beyond the cairn'. When Pennant visited, the chambers were fairly complete, with some capstones in place, but these had been removed by 1909.

The cairn now survives as a linear series of uneven low mounds of cairn material standing up to 1m in height, strung out in a line at least 42m long from N to S. This cairn material is spread across a width of about 16m at the rounded S end, and up to 24m at the N end. The precise plan of the N end is not evident, but there can be little doubt that originally there was a concave forecourt with a facade of orthostats (seen by Pennant) and square-ended horns, the total original width of the cairn being about 21m. The main entrance and chamber are at the N end with a second chamber in the S. The N chamber has three side slabs visible on its W side, with only one remaining on the E and one transverse slab; this chamber is about 4.8m in length. The S chamber has two pairs of exposed side slabs visible and a possible back stone; it is partly filled with stone debris and is about 2.7m in length.

The cairn was partly excavated in 1909 by Bryce, who found two adult inhumations in the inner compartment of the S chamber, and animal bones (ox and pig) in the outer compartment of the same chamber. Other finds included part of a Beaker and other pottery sherds; the end piece of a jet necklace and a triangular pendant of jet; a flint scraper and flake; and several struck pieces of pitchstone.

A prominent standing stone is situated about 15m ESE of the centre of the cairn. The stone stands about 2.2m in height and is 1.2m broad and 0.5m thick. Just N of the stone, a shallow pit covered by a slab produced charcoal and burnt bone when examined in 1910.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan and measures a maximum of 50m from NNE to SSW by 38m transversely.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of prehistoric burial and ritual practices.

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.