Scheduled Monument

Cladh Chiarain,chambered cairn 80m NNE ofSM6180

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
10/04/1995
Supplementary Information Updated
26/02/2021
Type
Prehistoric ritual and funerary: chambered cairn, Secular: house
Local Authority
Highland
Planning Authority
Highland
Parish
Ardnamurchan
NGR
NM 56080 61944
Coordinates
156080, 761944

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a chambered cairn at the head of a coastal bay.

Much of the cairn has been destroyed to provide building material for the surrounding township but the surviving remains show that this was a very substantial monument. These remains include part of the chamber and facade. The NE horn of the facade survives to about 1m in height, although damaged by a farm track. Several stones, some

fallen, mark the outer face of the facade, which was probably originally semicircular in plan, measuring about 18m across and 10m in depth.

The chamber is entered between a pair of impressive portal stones. The two remaining side slabs of the chamber are 1m and 1.4m in height. The capstone has slipped off and rests against the SW side-slab. At the present time the chamber measures 1.8m in length and 1.2m in breadth, but it probably once extended further NW. The footings of a rectangular building, about 10m by 5m, are located just

to the SSE of the remains of the chambered cairn and there is a large earth platform of unknown origin just to the S of this building.

The area to be scheduled measures 60m SE to NW by 40m NW-SE, to include the remains of the chambered cairn, the rectangular building, the platform and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the chambered cairn may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to an understanding of prehistoric ritual belief and burial practices. Although damaged by later activities the remains of this monument indicate that it was an unusually substantial chambered cairn.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM 56 SE 1.

Reference:

RCAHMS (1972) Argyll Inventory, Vol. 3, No. 1.

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 08:07