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

  SM5985_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011880)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a barrow cemetery of prehistoric date represented by a series of cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The site lies on level ground on the NE bank of the Lunan Water and on the S bank of its tributary the Gighty Burn at around 35m OD. It is fringed by high ground to the N and E but elsewhere the landscape is open and flat, and rich in settlement and funerary remains of the prehistoric and early historic periods.

The cemetery comprises a series of both circular and square barrows. At least five circular barrows are present ranging from a minimum of 6m in diameter to a maximum of 15m, with well-defined central grave- pits. At least twelve square barrows have also been identified, measuring up to 12m square.

Four of these are clustered together forming a block some 12m square. This cluster lies on the periphery of the distribution adjacent to modern Invergighty Cottage. A further group of four adjoining each other forms a linear NW-SE band. The other barrows are all separate although several appear almost to be grouped in linear arrangements.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible features and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 300m NW-SE by 210m as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to add to our understanding of prehistoric and 1st millennium AD funerary practice. The barrow cemetery is one of the largest known from this period and presents a major opportunity for the examination of the range and development of burial practices in lowland Scotland at this time.

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.