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

  SM5801_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011698)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a souterrain beneath a ruined structure, apparently the ruins of a prehistoric settlement, and, in the area around this mound, the remains of a late-Medieval farming settlement.

The souterrain is not easily located, and is now almost inaccessible, but is recorded as some 13m long, entered from a very low and narrow doorway with a steeply downward-sloping passage giving access to a small chamber, beyond which the main chamber opens out, some 2.6m high and 3m by 2.5m on plan. The chamber is corbelled. Beyond it there is a further passage leading to an inner chamber, obscured by collapse. The slight mound below which the souterrain is set has escaped the notice of earlier investigators. It consists of tumbled rubble and is clearly the ruin of a substantial structure, possibly a wheelhouse.

Around this are the ruins of several shieling huts, while downslope from it, to the NE, are two small rectangular buildings and a series of field walls, apparently marking a late-Medieval episode of cultivation. Aerial photographs show traces of lazy-beds or rig-and-furrow cultivation extending up the glen as far as Scalavat.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, measuring a maximum of 170m SW-NE by 110m NW-SE, to include the souterrain, prehistoric and later settlements, shielings and field remains, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a good example of a souterrain with evidence of associated above-ground structures, and thus of considerable interest for its potential to contribute to Iron Age studies, and in particular the question of the functions and affinities of souterrains. The Medieval elements of the site are of importance as a well-preserved example of extreme marginal arable agricultural settlement, and have the potential to provide information about the limits of Medieval agricultural capabilities and economy.

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.