Scheduled Monument

Ward of Browland,chambered cairnSM5547

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
22/01/1993
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
Shetland Islands
Parish
Sandsting
NGR
HU 26768 51583
Coordinates
426768, 1151583

Description

The monument consists of a prehistoric chambered burial cairn, situated on the summit of Ward of Browland.

The cairn lies below an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar. Perhaps because of this, the interior appears not to have been dug into. The cairn is sub-circular, with traces of what may be a flat facade of large boulders on its NNE side, although this is difficult to ascertain in the tumbled cairn material, which extends beyond the kerb which defines the perimeter.

The area to be scheduled is circular, 40m in diameter centred on the triangulation pillar, to include the cairn and an area around in which traces of associated structures and evidence for its construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an extremely rare undisturbed chambered cairn of the Shetland heel-shaped type. No other example appears to be so convincingly undug, and this holds out the possibility of important deposits, accessible to excavation, which would yield information on late Neolithic burial practices and material technology.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HU25SE 7.

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.

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Printed: 19/10/2026 14:01