Scheduled Monument
Cairn o'Mount, cairnsSM4968
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
- 18/02/1991
- Last Date Amended
- 16/01/2023
- Type
- Prehistoric ritual and funerary: cairn (type uncertain)
- Local Authority
- Aberdeenshire
- Planning Authority
- Aberdeenshire
- Parish
- Fordoun
- NGR
- NO 64943 80684
- Coordinates
- 364943, 780684
Description
The monument comprises the remains of two burial cairns dating from the Neolithic (4100 BC – 2500 BC) to Bronze Age (2500 BC – 800 BC). The larger cairn measures approximately 15.5m in diameter and 3.5m high. The smaller cairn lies 50m east southeast and measures approximately 10m in diameter by 0.3m high and has been partially quarried. The monument is located 125m and 175m to the northeast of the summit of Cairn o'Mount.
The scheduled area is in two circular parts; the northwestern has a diameter of 45m and the east southeastern has a diameter of 25m. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The the top 300mm of the main track and all above ground elements of fencing are specifically excluded to allow for their maintenance.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance as a well preserved cairn which is also a well known landmark, it has the potential to enhance our understanding of prehistoric burial and ceremonial practices. The second cairn is included because even in its damaged state, more than 50% survives, and the remains of the buried deposits will enhance our understanding of the better preserved cairn, with the potential to increase our knowledge of the development of the relationship of the two cairns. The cairns may be of particular significance because of their spectacular siting.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.
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