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

  SM11034_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013845)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises two cairns of prehistoric date, visible as upstanding earth-and-stone mounds. Cairns such as this are funerary and ritual monuments built during the Early Bronze Age (c.2500-1500BC).

The monument lies at around 130m OD, just to the NE of the summit of a NW spur on the Hill of Alvah. The site comprises two circular cairns approximately 60m apart. The easternmost cairn is the best preserved, measuring approximately 16m in diameter by 2m high, with a distinctive flat top. The second cairn may once have been larger but is now only identifiable as a low stony area 20m in diameter. Antiquarian records indicate that this cairn was quarried for stone during the 1800s. These two monuments form part of a group of similar-sized cairns which lie to the W of the valley of the River Deveron. Interestingly, the Hill of Alvah cairns are not intervisible with the earlier Stirling long cairn, even though it lies only a few hundred metres away.

Two circular areas are proposed for scheduling, both 40m in diameter, centred on the two cairns, to include the cairns and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric ritual and funerary practices. It may be expected to contain funerary deposits and evidence relating to its mode of construction and use, and may also preserve evidence for contemporary landuse and environmental conditions.

The importance of this monument is further enhanced by its relationship to similar sites nearby, and in the broader area of the valley of the Deveron and its hinterland.

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.