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

  SM6000_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011895)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a Medieval chapel and burial ground, underlying which is a late prehistoric or early Medieval settlement. The chapel is represented by a sub-rectangular foundation, 10m by 3.2m internally, oriented ENE-WSW. The ENE end gable appears to have collapsed outwards. No trace of an entrance can be ascertained in the foundation of the lime-mortared wall.

A roughly rectilinear graveyard surrounds the chapel, measuring about 30m by 20m, its longest dimension being NNW-SSE. At least four upright stone slabs in the N portion of this enclosure are almost certainly grave markers. A slight platform 6m by 4m on the SE wall of the chapel may

be the base of an attached structure. On the outer side of

the graveyard's enclosing bank is a small appended enclosure of similar dimensions, but whether this is the foundation of a building or simply the remains of an enclosure cannot be ascertained.

From disturbed areas near the NE corner of the chapel pottery has been retrieved which suggests the ecclesiastical remains overlie an earlier settlement, perhaps of late Iron Age date. The area to be scheduled is irregular in outline, with a maximum extent N-S of 75m and E-W of 50m, to include the chapel and burial ground and a small area of ground outside within which burials or other traces may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for the evidence it offers, and could offer upon excavation, for ecclesiastical architecture and organisation in the Western Isles. The evidence for underlying settlement offers the possibility of establishing a sequence of site use for the period from late Iron Age to Medieval times which would be of great importance, as such sequences have to date been established in this region only for defensive structures.

The location of the site in an area of shell sand holds out the possibility of excellent preservation for bone and other material seldom preserved in the acidic soils of the west, and excavation of the burials could shed valuable light on Medieval diet and nutrition. This superficially modest monument is therefore of quite remarkable potential importance.

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.