Scheduled Monument

Skelpick, long cairn 350m NE ofSM1815

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
20/12/1934
Last Date Amended
08/03/2004
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Farr
NGR
NC 72256 56732
Coordinates
272256, 956732

Description

The monument comprises an Orkney-Cromarty type chambered long cairn of Neolithic date. The monument is situated on a low terrace at around 32m OD, in rough grassland 70m E of the Skelpick Burn. It is patchily covered by heather. The monument was first scheduled in 1934, but an inadequate area was included to protect all the archaeological remains. The present scheduling rectifies this.

The monument is approximately 71m at its longest, running NNW-SSE, and is 20m at its widest. The edges of the cairn are indistinct, confused by tumbled stone and covered with heather and turf. The monument is horned at either end, the northern horns the larger and framing the entrance to a bipartite polygonal chamber. The interior structure is constructed using large stone orthostats and roofed with dry-stone corbelling, consisting of a brief passage leading to a small antechamber, approximately 3m E-W and 2.5m N-S, and then into a main chamber, approximately 3.5m E-W and 4m N-S. The passage is built with long, prone slabs up to 2.5m long and is roofed with a substantial lintel stone. A further large lintel stone divides the two chamber compartments, which is significantly higher than the height of the passage at around 1.5m high. To the SE of the cairn is a small sub-rectangular enclosure, probably built from the cairn material.

The area now to be scheduled is irregular on plan, measuring a maximum of 100m SE-NW by 40m transversely, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as a Neolithic chambered long cairn of Orkney-Cromarty type. Although one of the two chamber compartments was excavated by Horseburgh in 1867, it maintains considerable potential to provide a valuable insight into the funerary and ritual practices of this period. It is a particularly striking example of its kind.

References

Bibliography

The cairn is recorded by RCAHMS as NC75NW 7.

References:

Close-Brooks J 1995, THE HIGHLANDS, EXPLORING SCOTLAND'S HERITAGE SERIES (2nd ed), A Ritchie (ed.), Edinburgh, 31, 164.

Henshall A S 1963, CHAMBERED TOMBS OF SCOTLAND, Edinburgh, Vol. 1, 329.

Henshall A S and Ritchie J N G 1995, THE CHAMBERED CAIRNS OF SUTHERLAND, Edinburgh, 28-30.

Horseburgh J 1870, 'Notes on cromlechs, duns, hut-circles, chambered cairns and other remains in the county of Sutherland' PROC SOC ANTIQ SCOT 7, 273.

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.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 14:57