Documents

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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

  SM7857_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013239)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of three probable burial mounds on the crest of the hill at Wasbister and an area around them in which evidence of burial practices is likely to survive.

The three mounds are at Ordnance Survey grid references HY 2859 1427, HY 2857 1426 and HY 2860 1422 on top of Wasbister hill, at the east side of a quarry. The more northerly of the three measures 20.6m N-S by 16.2m transversely, and from 2.5m high on its N side to 1.0m on the S. A near-circular depression, c.6.0m in diameter, occurs at the centre of the mound, where many small stones can be seen.

An old farm track separates it from another of the mounds which measures approximately 13.0 m in diameter by 1.7 m high on the north side and 0.8 m high on the south side. The slopes on its west side merge with the east side of a stone quarry. The most southerly, a grass-covered mound 1.7m high, containing many small stones, has a small depression in its top.

It is oval on plan, measuring 23.7m N-S by 15.7m transversely. A cist reported as having been discovered previously in a mound near The Brecks may have come from one of these mounds or from a mound destroyed by the quarry. The small mound near the edge of the quarry NW of the southernmost of the mounds described above may be quarry spoil.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular and measures 48m E-W by 90m N-S with its NW corner 2m W of the corner post of the fence round The Brecks. It includes the three mounds described above and an area around them in which evidence relating to their construction and use is likely to survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a barrow cemetery which forms part of the complex of monuments including the Ring of Bookan, Skae Frue and the chambered cairn at Bookan on the hills overlooking the Ring of Brogar. The mounds are a prominent horizon feature from the Ring of Brogar, and thus are also of national importance in their relationship to the Ring of Brogar, surrounding barrows and other monuments.

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.