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

  SM11814_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014101)

Summary

Description

The monument is a prehistoric burial cairn situated in rough pasture on a false crest overlooking the River Findhorn, at a height of approximately 380m above sea level. It is located within a complex of other prehistoric burial cairns, hut-circles and relic field systems shown on the Ordnance Survey map.

The cairn survives as a roughly circular, convex, turf-covered mound measuring 11.8m from E to W by 10.5m transversely, and 0.9m high. Its form suggests that it is best classified as a round cairn, probably Bronze Age in date. Some stone is visible in the surface but no kerbstones have been identified. There is a 1.8m wide, roughly circular, depression in the centre of the cairn, which may indicate subsidence into a central burial cist.

The area to be scheduled is circular on plan, centred on the cairn, to include the visible remains and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling excludes the above-ground portions of the modern post-and-wire fence crossing the scheduled area, to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is in a relatively good state of preservation. It is upstanding and clearly visible in the landscape. Despite a small degree of erosion by grazing livestock, the cairn retains the field characteristics that identify it as a Bronze-Age cairn, a form of prehistoric burial site. It has a well-defined edge and the convex profile of the interior does not suggest extensive, if any, disturbance. It is therefore likely that high quality archaeological deposits relating to prehistoric burial rites are preserved within the monument.

Contextual characteristics: The cairn formed a highly visible component of the Bronze-Age landscape and can be compared and contrasted to nearby prehistoric funerary monuments and others outside the region to create an understanding of regional identity and society during this period. The monument is located within a complex of prehistoric settlement sites, both domestic and funerary, in this part of the Findhorn Valley, further enhancing its value.

National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it is a prominent, upstanding Bronze-Age cairn with the potential to reveal much about funerary practice in the prehistoric communities of NE Scotland. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to our knowledge of prehistoric society in this locality and, by association, the rest of Scotland. The loss of the monument would affect our future ability to appreciate and understand the prehistoric landscape and its inhabitants.

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.