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

  SM11815_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014102)

Summary

Description

The monument is a ring cairn, a form of prehistoric burial mound. It is situated at a height of approximately 350m above sea level, in an area of rough grazing on a shelf overlooking the River Findhorn and Dalarossie Church.

The monument consists of a circular stony bank surviving up to 0.7m high, spread to an average of 3m wide and measuring approximately 18m in diameter overall. The bank encloses a slight central stony mound 8m in diameter and 0.3m high. There are traces of a possible break in the bank on the E side. No kerbstones are evident. The form of the monument bears comparison with other ring cairns, such as Weird Law in Peeblesshire, which provided a radiocarbon date of approximately 1500 BC. An interpretation as a more rare saucer cairn or barrow is, however, also a possibility.

The cairn lies on the N edge of a relic field system and also within sight of two burial cairns to the S and a hut circle to the E.

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.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

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

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument appears to be in a good state of preservation under the cover of heather. It is upstanding and clearly visible in the landscape and retains the field characteristics that identify it as a Bronze-Age ring cairn or, perhaps, a saucer cairn, a rare form of prehistoric burial site. It is likely that the monument preserves high quality archaeological deposits relating to prehistoric burial rites, as well as sealing evidence for the earlier environment.

Contextual characteristics: The cairn was 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 the value of the monument.

National Importance

This monument is of national importance because it is a prominent, upstanding Bronze-Age cairn with the capacity 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.