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

  SM90078_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014614)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of two long cairns in a hill top location.

The S long cairn is turf covered and very well preserved. It is orientated roughly ESE-WNW and measures 72m E-W by 10m wide and is about 1.2m high. The cairn swells at each end into two distinct mounds; that at the ESE end is about 21m wide and 3m high, while that at the WNW is about 18m wide and 2m high. Spurs or "horns", 2 at each end, project an additional 3m to 6m beyond the ends of the cairn.

A number of slabs projecting from the cairn may represent lintels and traces of chambers. The N long cairn is also well preserved and is 67m long, 10.5m wide and 1m high. It has 2 horns at the NNE end; these project a further 6m. The SW end is formed of a large round flat-topped cairn 16m wide and 2.5m high.

Several stones project from the body of the cairn, possibly indicating the location of a chamber and cists. There are traces of a small oval structure about 2.5m across just to the W of the N end of the N cairn. The origin and significance of this structure is uncertain, but it could be of the same date as the long cairns.

The area to be scheduled measures 230m SSW-NNE by 140m WNW-ESE, to include the two long cairns, the oval structure and an area around in which traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the long cairns may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential contribution to an understanding of prehistoric ritual and burial practice. Both cairns are well preserved and the S example in particular may have surviving burial deposits.

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.