Scheduled Monument

Altbreck,broch 1650m ESE of Dalchork BridgeSM1829

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
19/02/1935
Last Date Amended
21/06/1993
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: broch; enclosure (domestic or defensive, rather than ritual or funerary); linear earthwork
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Lairg
NGR
NC 59118 10343
Coordinates
259118, 910343

Description

The monument consists of a broch, surrounded by an enclosure and associated with other enclosures and dykes. The monument is in an elevated location within a forestry plantation.

The broch measures 9.5m in diameter within a wall 4m thick with an entrance 1m wide in the SE. There are guard-chambers on either side

of the entrance passage and four other chambers within the width of

the wall. The chamber W of the entrance appeared in 1909 to be the staircase gallery. The chambers and entrance are still visible,

although they are almost filled with collapsed walling. The outer

face of the broch wall stands to 1.2m. Abutting the broch to the NW

is a D-shaped enclosure built of broch material. To the E of the

broch are traces of a large oval scooped enclosure 18m by 10m. The

broch is surrounded by the remains of a probable outer enclosure.

This is most distinct on the S, E and N as a marked break of slope.

In addition there are a number of dykes that appear to focus on the broch and may be prehistoric in date.

The area to be scheduled measures 140m NNW-SSE by 65m E-W, to include the broch, the outer enclosure, one of the dykes running S from the broch and an area around in which traces of activities associated

with the construction and use of the broch may survive, as shown in

red on the attached plan.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

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.

Images

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Printed: 29/03/2024 15:12