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

  SM8662_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013396)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a substantial enclosed settlement which straddles the Whaness Burn on Hoy, in heather moorland immediately to the NE of a conifer plantation.

The enclosure is oval on plan and measures 90m from N to S by 70m transversely, within a substantial bank (up to 4m wide and 0.8m high), with a flat-bottomed ditch (up to 4m wide) and, in places, an external bank (up to 3m wide and 0.6m high) beyond this. About one third of the enclosure lies to the E of the burn. The enclosing banks are in-turned around the burn.

A series of features have been built against the inner wall, but most prominent is a group of mounds in the NE section which probably represent prehistoric houses. Immediately outside the enclosure in this area is a further mound which has been interpreted as a house of 'heel-plan' type fronted by a forecourt. A series of sub-pear dykes can be seen in the immediate vicinity of the enclosure.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan and measures 160m in diameter, to include the enclosed settlement, adjacent features and an area around in which remains associated with their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has excellent field characteristics and is a rare example of an enclosed prehistoric structure (the first recorded in Orkney) which appears, on the basis if its internal features, to be Bronze Age in date. its valley-bottom location is also particularly interesting.

This monument therefore has the potential to provide information about Bronze Age settlement and economy in Orkney, with a high probability of the survival of some organic remains. Its significance is further enhanced as one of a group of monuments around the Whaness Burn which may be related.

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.