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

  SM7662_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013115)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a large mound containing the remains of a sequence of settlements and an area surrounding this with remains of associated fields.

The mound, which has been partly excavated on two occasions, most recently in 1996, contains settlement remains from the Iron Age, the Viking or early Norse period and the Medieval period. The site appears to have housed one substantial farmhouse and associated buildings on each of these occasions, and it is possible that occupation was almost continuous for the entire period.

A substantial assemblage of Iron Age and Medieval artefacts has been recovered, with some items which appear to be of Viking date, although the more recent excavations appear to have stopped just above the main early Norse levels. On the rocky hillslope around the mound are tumbled field walls which are presumably associated with some of the several phases of use of the settlement site.

The area to be scheduled is a square of side 50m aligned NE-SW, to include the settlement mound and part of the area around it in which field walls are visible and in which other evidence relating to the use of the site may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a rare example of a site demonstrated long occupancy, stretching from the middle Iron Age to the Medieval period and including structures of probable early Norse date identifiable on field characteristics. It has the added significance of apparently contemporary field boundaries nearby.

It gains additional importance as a member of a group of probably early Norse sites on the island of Unst. The important evidence regarding pre-Norse and Norse period settlement and agricultural economy which this monument can provide could be further expanded by comparative study of the related monuments in the island, several of which are being scheduled 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.