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

  SM11631_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014054)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a roundhouse, between 3000 and 4000 years old, and a group of cairns and short stretches of bank. It is situated in an area of unimproved pasture on a gentle, SE-facing slope with wide views. The roundhouse occupies a slight rise on this slope.

The roundhouse is roughly circular (approximately 20 m in diameter overall) and double-walled. Its outer wall (surviving as a stony bank, 1.4m in thickness and 0.4m in height) and inner wall (surviving as a low bank, 2m in width) enclose an area around 11m in diameter. In the interior, the penannular ring-ditch, 2.8m wide and with a causeway on the SW side, abuts the inner face of the wall and surrounds a raised platform. There is an entrance passage on the SSE side. To the N and E of the roundhouse there are concentrations of small cairns and short stretches of bank, representing evidence of prehistoric cultivation.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, to include the roundhouse, cairns and stretches of bank, and an area in which evidence relating to the construction and use of the monument may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The above-ground structure of fences and walls representing modern field boundaries are excluded from scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The roundhouse is a large and well-preserved example of its type and it is very likely that the associated archaeological deposits remain well-preserved. With a high degree of completeness, this structure has the potential to significantly enhance understanding of this class of monument. It lies within a prehistoric landscape that includes concentrations of cairns and stretches of bank, enhancing the overall archaeological potential of the monument.

Contextual characteristics: The monument occupies a prominent position in the landscape, with wide views. The surviving remains indicate intensive use of this landscape in prehistoric times.

National importance: The monument is of national significance because it is a well-preserved example of a roundhouse situated within a prehistoric landscape. The roundhouse survives in good condition and there is good potential for the survival of archaeological evidence relating to its construction and use. It retains important field characteristics, such as well-preserved perimeter walls, a pennanular ring-ditch and a well-defined entrance. The presence of concentrations of cairns and stretches of bank indicates use of this landscape over an extended period, enhancing its archaeological potential. The monument occupies a prominent position in the landscape. It would have been visible from a wide area of the prehistoric landscape in which people conducted their day-to-day activities. Its loss would affect our ability to understand this 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.