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

  SM7267_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012868)

Summary

Description

This monument comprises a very well-preserved chambered long cairn of the Clyde type, dating to the neolithic period, some 4500 to 5500 years ago. It is situated on a narrow terrace below the summit of Torr an Loisgte, within a forestry plantation.

This monument is oriented N-S, with the tail of the cairn to the north, and the wider, facade end to the south. It measures a maximum of 25m N-S, with a maximum width of 10m at the southern end. The facade can clearly be traced at the southern end, and is of the post-and-panel type, consisting of short sections of drystone walling between larger upright stones.

A chamber leading off the facade, slightly east of centre, is visible, and a second chamber can be seen approximately half-way along the western long side. There are traces of a possible third chamber towards the end of the cairn on the western side, but this is unclear, and the hollow in the body of the cairn could be due to later stone-robbing to build the two modern stells to the west and south of the cairn.

The area to be scheduled is a rectangle 50m N-S by 40m E-W, to include the chambered long cairn and an area around in which traces of activities associated with its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it is a very well-preserved example of a distinctive type of early prehistoric burial cairn, which has the potential to increase considerably our understanding of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices, and also of the past environment, as the cairn material will have helped to preserve the prehistoric ground surface buried beneath it. Close by are the remains of two other chambered cairns (Gaints' Graves, SAM 398), one of which is very similar to and on the same N-S alignment as Torran Loisgte.

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.