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Scheduled monuments in Orkney

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Orkney shown within Scotland

A scheduled monument in Scotland is a nationally important archaeological site or monument which is given legal protection by being placed on a list (or "schedule") maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. The aim of scheduling is to preserve the country's most significant sites and monuments as far as possible in the form in which they have been inherited.[1]

The process of scheduling is governed by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, which aims "to make provision for the investigation, preservation and recording of matters of archaeological or historical interest". The term "scheduled monument" can apply to the whole range of archaeological sites which have been deliberately constructed by human activity but are not always visible above ground. They range from prehistoric standing stones and burial sites, through Roman remains and medieval structures such as castles and monasteries, to later structures such as industrial sites and buildings constructed for the World Wars. Some buildings or structures which were both scheduled and listed have had their listing designations removed to reduce the duplication.

In 2017 there were 8238 scheduled monuments in Scotland.

Notable Scheduled Monuments in the Orkney Islands

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Name Location Description Ref No Image
Castle Bloody chambered cairn Shapinsay Prehistoric feature on the island of Shapinsay SM1325
Cobbie Row's Castle Wyre Ruins of the oldest medieval castle in Scotland SM9007979
Dennis Head Old Beacon North Ronaldsay Oldest surviving lighthouse in Scotland SM6596
St Nicholas Church Orphir Remains of 12th-century round church SM13379
Earl's Palace, Birsay Birsay Ruined 16th-century palace SM90033
St Magnus Church, Egilsay Egilsay Roofless medieval church and part of adjacent burial ground SM90137
Eynhallow Church Eynhallow Medieval church and later settlement SM90144
Bishop's Palace Kirkwall 12th century palace of the Bishop of Orkney SM90193
Earl's Palace, Kirkwall Kirkwall Ruined 17th-century Renaissance-style palace of Earl of Orkney SM90194
Knowe of Yarso Chambered Cairn Rousay Neolithic chambered burial cairn c.2900 BC SM90198
Noltland Castle Pierowall Incomplete 16th century castle SM90231
Quoyness chambered cairn Sanday Neolithic chambered burial cairn on Els Ness SM90243
Rennibister Earth House Bay o' Firth, Orkney Souterrain accessed by hatch in modern roof SM90245
Stenness Standing Stones Stenness A stone circle, henge and all other remains SM90285
Taversöe Tuick Chambered Cairn Rousay Chambered cairn containing two levels of chamber SM90297

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "What is scheduling?". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2017.