Scheduled Monument

Craonaval,chambered cairn 480m NE ofSM5243

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
09/12/1991
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Parish
North Uist
NGR
NF 83875 62892
Coordinates
83875, 862892

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a prehistoric chambered burial cairn, on low ground at the NE foot of Craonaval. The cairn has been disturbed, and has shielings built into it on the NW side. The original diameter varies from 14 to 17m. The entrance passage has been from the SSE, and 5 upright stones flanking a very large oval chamber protrude through the mound.

This cairn is one of a large local group on and around the low hill, Craonaval. The area to be scheduled is circular, 40m in diameter and centred on the chamber of the cairn, to include both the cairn and the adjacent shielings, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as one of a group of cairns, standing stones and stone circles in North Uist which represents an unusual concentration of prehistoric ritual sites, paralleled in the Western Isles only around Callanish. Although the chamber has been robbed, important evidence may survive, below the cairn, about its construction and use, and there is proven evidence of late Iron Age or later occupation (in the form of artefacts) from the shielings adjacent.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NF 86 SW 11.

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: 07/08/2025 10:50