Description

The monument is a round barrow, a form of burial monument dating to the Early Bronze Age (2500BC – 1500BC). It is circular on plan, measuring about 30m in diameter and standing up to about 5m high. The monument lies on the western edge of a ridge, at about 45m above sea level. 

The scheduled area is circular, measuring 50m in diameter, centred on the monument. 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.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The national importance of the monument is demonstrated in the following way(s) (see Designations Policy and Selection Guidance, Annex 1, para 17): a.  The monument is of national importance because it makes a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past, or has the potential to do so as a well-preserved Early Bronze Age barrow. In particular, it adds to our understanding of Bronze Age ritual and burial practices.b.   The monument retains structural, architectural, decorative or other physical attributes which make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past. In particular, there is the potential for the preservation of buried features and deposits. Study of the form and construction techniques of the barrow has the potential to increase our understanding of these monuments and similar monuments elsewhere.c.   The monument is a rare example of an upstanding and apparently undisturbed barrow.d.   The monument is a particularly good example of an Early Bronze Age barrow and is therefore an important representative of this monument type.e.   The monument has research potential which could significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past. It can tell us about the character, development and use of burial and ritual sites and the nature of prehistoric society, economy, social hierarchy and burial in this area of Scotland and further afield. Further research and investigation of the surviving buried remains have the potential to explain the precise chronology of this monument. Such a chronological explanation may help to inform our understanding of the development of similar prehistoric sites across Scotland. f.   The monument makes a significant contribution to today's landscape and our understanding of the historic landscape. It formed a prominent part of the prehistoric landscape and remains a significant feature in the landscape today.

Assessment of Cultural Significance

This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:

Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past)

The monument is a well-preserved example of an Early Bronze Age barrow. It is a visually impressive monument, standing up to about 5m high. The barrow appears largely undisturbed, and it is likely that features, such as burials, survive within the body of the barrow and beneath the monument.

Barrows are round mounds built predominantly of earth, often with an encircling ditch and covering burials and other features, such as timber structures. Some barrows show evidence of later, secondary, burials inserted into the barrow mound. Dating evidence indicates that barrows were built during the Early Bronze Age. Excavation of large barrows elsewhere have demonstrated considerable structural complexity and, in some cases, long development sequences. These were places of burial, ritual and ceremony. Archaeological investigation of these types of monument has confirmed that significant archaeological and environmental evidence can survive within, beneath and around the barrow mound.

There is, therefore, high potential for the survival of archaeological deposits, including human remains and associated grave goods, artefacts and environmental remains within, beneath and around the monument. The archaeological deposits have the potential to provide information about the date of the monument, its form, function and development over time, ritual and funerary practice as well as contemporary economy, land-use and environment. Scientific study of the barrow's form and construction techniques compared with other prehistoric barrows would also enhance our understanding of the development sequence of this site and of Bronze Age barrows in general.

Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)Prehistoric barrows and cairns are found throughout Scotland. This example is one of a cluster of barrows and cairns recorded to the north and west of Perth, including the cairns at Cairnton Cottage (scheduled monument 1508, Place Record UID 26724) and Huntingtower (scheduled monument 2267; Place Record UID 26857), and the barrow at Court Hill (scheduled monument 1524; Place Record UID 27025). Further examples, such as the barrows recorded at Loch Eye (scheduled monument 6946; Place Record UID 77397) and Sheriffton (scheduled monument 6723; Place Record UID 68811) survive as buried remains recorded as cropmarks on aerial photographs.There is, therefore, potential to study these sites together to better understand their functions within local communities and possible chronological development in the area. The monument has the potential to enhance our understanding of the development of Bronze Age monumentality and burial, the nature of belief systems, ceremony and ritual, as well as the place of such monuments in contemporary society.Prehistoric barrows are positioned in a variety of locations. Some are placed in conspicuous locations within the landscape, such as on the summits or shoulders of hills, perhaps to be seen on a skyline or otherwise in profile. Others are found in less conspicuous locations, for example on valley floors. Relationships to routeways and/or other ritual sites, or views over specific areas of land may also have had significance. This monument is positioned on the western end of a broadly east to west oriented ridge. It occupies a prominent position with extensive views to the east.

Associative characteristics (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)

There are no known associative characteristics that contribute to this site's cultural significance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland https://www.trove.scot/ reference number Place Record UID 379525 (accessed on 22/04/2025).

Last, J. (2007) Beyond the grave. New perspectives on barrows. Oxford: Oxbow Books.

RCAHMS (1994) South-east Perth: an archaeological landscape. RCAHMS: Edinburgh.

Scarf (2022) Sheridan, A. and Knight M.G. (eds) Chalcolithic and Bronze Age Perth and Kinross Archaeological Research Framework: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Available online at https://scarf.scot/regional/pkarf/4-chalcolithic-and-bronze-age/.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/379525/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland