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

  SM439_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600003342)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the grassed-over remains of a chambered long cairn of the Neolithic period, about 5000 to 5500 years old, situated at 62m OD in cultivated land at the edge of an extensive boggy area. The monument was originally scheduled in 1934, but an inadequate area was included to protect all of the archaeological remains: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The upstanding remains of the cairn consist of an overgrown mound approximately 34m NW-SE and 18m transversely, standing 1m to 1.7m in height. There are four visible orthostats (upright slabs) showing proud of the turf, all apparently broken. Three of the orthostats are clustered together about 9m from the SE end of the monument. The northernmost of the three is 1m long and 0.1m thick, aligned NNW-SSE while the southernmost is 1.6m long and 0.2m thick, aligned WNW-ESE, and both project 0.3m. Between them is the barely visible tip of the third stone. The fourth orthostat is 11m to the NW of the northernmost stone of the group of three and is 0.6m long, 0.25m thick and projects by 0.4m: it is aligned SW-NE.

The area now to be scheduled is irregular on plan, approximately 55m NW-SE by 45m transversely. This area includes the features described above, as well as an area within which evidence for the construction and use of the site is likely to survive, as marked on the accompanying map extract in red.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a chambered long cairn which has considerable potential to provide important information on the funerary and ritual architecture of the Neolithic period in Scotland.

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.