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

  SM6933_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012646)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a square barrow of probable Pictish date, visible as an upstanding earthwork, and a pit alignment of prehistoric date, visible as a series of cropmarks on oblique aerial photographs.

The square barrow survives as an upstanding earthwork within a former plantation. It comprises a low central mound, measuring about 10m in diameter and 0.5m high, which is set within double ditches, with medial banks of earth and stone construction surviving up to 1m high.

The ditches are roughly square in plan with well-defined causeways at the N, S and ESE corners. On the N, the outermost bank is obscured by that of the plantation. Although unusually large, the plan of this earthwork is characteristic of square barrows which are thought to date to the Pictish period, during the first millennium AD.

Running NNE-SSW, and passing close to the NE of the barrow, is a sinuous line of at least 25 irregularly-spaced pits, measuring approximately 350m in overall length. The pits are of varying sizes, measuring up to about 2m in diameter. Pit alignments of this type generally represent ritual or ceremonial sites dating to the Neolithic period, although some may represent land boundaries of later prehistoric date.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular with maximum dimensions of 420m from its N-most point to its S-most point and 360m from its E-most point to its W-most point, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric funerary and ritual practices. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

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.