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

  SM2390_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002566)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of two burial cairns dating from the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (around 3500- 2500 BC). The cairns are located on the southeast slope of Struie Hill at 75m and 85m above sea level and have open views to the Dornoch Firth.

The northern cairn survives as a mound of loose stones measuring approximately 21m in maximum diameter. The southern edge of the cairn is marked by at least two kerb stones which appear to be in-situ. The largest kerb stone measures approximately 0.8m in height. The second cairn is located 120m to the south, and survives as a mound of earth and stone measuring approximately 17m in maximum diameter and up to 1.3m in height. In the centre of this cairn there is an orthostat marking the likely position of a central chamber. At the southeast extent of the cairn another orthostat, measuring 1m by 0.4m and standing 0.6m high, may indicate the remains of the cairn passage.

The scheduled area comprises two parts: a circular area centred on the northern cairn measuring 40m in diameter and a circular area centred on the southern cairn measuring 43m in diameter. The scheduling includes the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The post and wire fence is excluded from the scheduling. The monument was first scheduled in 1964, but the documentation does not meet current standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to make a significant addition to knowledge and understanding of the past, particularly the design and construction of prehistoric burial monuments during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Chambered cairns are often our main source of evidence for the Neolithic in Scotland, and can enhance our understanding of Neolithic society and economy, and as well as the nature of burial practices and belief systems. These cairns continue to be visible as upstanding field monuments and have good field characteristics with significant potential for the presence of buried archaeological remains. This evidence allows us to interpret their form, function and position in the landscape. The cairns are part of a group late Neolithic and early Bronze Age burial monuments in the Struie Hill to Dornoch Firth coastal area and represent important surviving components of what would have been a wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand funerary practice, death and burial in prehistory, and the placing of cairns within the landscape.

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.