Scheduled Monument

Swordale, hut circle 1450m SE of, Bonar BridgeSM1877

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
07/05/1935
Last Date Amended
23/02/1998
Supplementary Information Updated
23/06/2015
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: hut circle, roundhouse
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Creich (Highland)
NGR
NH 62577 90149
Coordinates
262577, 890149

Description

The monument comprises a hut circle of prehistoric date. The monument is being rescheduled to rectify the position of the scheduled area.

The monument lies in woodland, close to the Dornoch Firth, at around 70m OD. It comprises a hut circle within an encircling walled enclosure. The enclosure measures approximately 29m in diameter with an entrance in the WNW. The walls of the enclosure are up to 5m thick on the W side, diminishing to a single line of stones on the E. The hut circle is set off-centre within the enclosure, lying to the ESE, close to the least substantial section of the enclosure wall. The hut circle measures about 14m in diameter with walls up to 2m thick and an entrance to the ESE. Within the hut circle is a horse-shoe shaped mound of grass-covered stones. Two flanking walls run NNE and SSW from the hut circle's entrance, outwith the enclosure wall. Some 20m to the SE there is a further mound of stones about 10m in diameter.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described above, and an area around them within which material relating to the construction and use of the hut circle may be expected to survive. It is circular with a diameter of 60m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The modern fence which crosses the area is excluded from the scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of later prehistoric settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its unusual design, and its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NH 69 SW 41.

Bibliography:

RCAHMS (1911) Sutherland, 24-5, no. 63.

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 10:22