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

  SM5429_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011331)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a group of remains: a broch overlain by a later rectangular building, a group of ruined blackhouses and associated enclosures, two groups of cupmarks on rocks, a causeway and two fish-traps. These remains range in date from the Bronze Age until recent times.

The broch stands to at least 2m above its original foundation, and is 14.5m in diameter. It is situated on a rocky headland. In a NNW direction from the broch are two groups of cupmarks on exposed bedrock: the nearer group, 43.5m from the broch, has 37 markings up to 2cm

deep and 9cm in diameter, while the further group, 52.5m from the broch, has thirty-five markings, of similar size range. A well-constructed rubble causeway leads across the inlet to the NW of the broch: this is 36m long and 1m wide, and stands 1.2m high. It has been capped with large flat slabs, though these are now disturbed and in some cases missing. In the same inlet, but further towards the sea are 2 stretches of walling linking a small island to the shore: these represent a tidal fish-trap. The foundations of at least three post medieval dwellings, of "blackhouse" type, are also included, with associated enclosure walling.

The area to be scheduled is irregular, and is partly between low and high water mark, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine group of remains of differing periods, indicating the continued importance of the location (at a junction of tidal, marine and land-based resource zones) over a long period of time. In addition several of the individual elements are of national importance in their own right. The cupmarks are members of a class only recently recognised in this area. The broch is, unnusually for Lewis, not situated on a small islet, and survives well enough to show that it has the potential to preserve important deposits which could provide evidence for contemporary economy and culture. The more recent remains have the potential to provide information concerning the extent (or absence) of development in local life-style between the late prehistoric and relatively recent times.

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.