Scheduled Monument

Clachan Corrach, chambered cairn 375m E of Beallach FarmSM2466

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
11/08/1964
Last Date Amended
10/05/2016
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Urray
NGR
NH 48840 56544
Coordinates
248840, 856544

Description

The monument is the remains of a chambered cairn dating from the Neolithic period, probably built between 3800 and 2500 BC. It is visible as a group of upstanding stones that define a chamber to the west and an entrance passage to the east. The cairn lies 180m above sea level, on a prominent knoll near the top of a west facing slope down to the Alt Drioghinn, a small tributary of the River Conon.

The monument is an Orkney-Cromarty type chambered cairn with the chamber and passage aligned east-west. The polygonal chamber is defined by four large upright stones and appears to measure about 4.2m long by 2.7m wide. The entrance passage to the east is defined by two large side slabs on the south and one on the north, and appears to measure about 3.8m long and 1.2m wide. Two low portal stones indicate an entrance from the passage about 1m wide. A large stone about 2.5m long that lies across the inner end of the passage appears to be a displaced lintel.

The scheduled area is circular on plan, measuring 30m in diameter, centred on the east end of the chamber, to include 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 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 has potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the past, in particular the design and construction of burial monuments. It retains its field characteristics to a marked degree, the large upright stones of the chamber being visually impressive. 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. This cairn is one of a group of chambered cairns around the head of the Cromarty Firth which are important surviving components of what would have been a wider prehistoric landscape of settlement, agriculture and ritual. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the meaning and importance of death and burial in prehistoric times and the placing of cairns within the landscape.

References

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 12414 (accessed on 26/04/2016).

The Highland Council Historic Environment Record reference is MHG7888 (accessed on 26/04/2016).

Davidson, J L and Henshall, A S 1989, The chambered cairns of Orkney: an inventory of the structures and their contents, Edinburgh.

Henshall, A S 1963, The chambered tombs of Scotland, vol 1. Edinburgh. P 334.

HER/SMR Reference

  • http://her.highland.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MHG7888

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 22:40