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

  SM6149_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012041)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of two prehistoric burial cairns set on a S- facing slope above a cliffed promontory.

The cairns lie almost N and S. The N cairn is the smaller, and is set on a prominent knoll at the S end of the ridge of the hill called Smir Heog. It is almost circular, with several large stones set on edge around its perimeter, which measures about 6m in diameter. On the ESE side there are three larger earthfast stones, possibly the remains of a short facade, and in the body of the cairn near to this several larger blocks may represent a disturbed burial chamber. 50m away, just E of S, is the second, larger cairn. This is obscured by vegetation and peat, but is either square or heel-shaped, and about 10m across. A possible facade faces SSE, with a tall stone set at its E end and several larger stones at its W end. There is no trace of a chamber.

The area to be scheduled is a rectangle, 90m N-S by 50m, with its SE corner on the top of the cliffs overlooking Roe Sand. This includes the cairns and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an unusual pair of small burial cairns, set very close together. Individually and as a pair the cairns have the potential, through excavation and analysis, to provide information about prehistoric ritual and funerary practices and, from underlying soils, about contemporary environment and land use. Although apparently funerary, the cairns are set overlooking the sea, and a deliberate or accidental use as navigation markers cannot be excluded.

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.