Video: ARP 2025 – ‘(Re)discovering a Neolithic passage grave at Blomuir, Holm, Orkney’
The recording of Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark's talk on the Blomuir chambered cairn, Holm, at the Archaeological Research in Progress 2025 conference. Read more
Category: Chambered Cairns
New ORCA report details 1985 Vinquoy excavation for the first time
The UHI Archaeology Institute has published a report of the 1985 re-excavation of the Vinquoy Hill chambered cairn, dedicating it to the late Jacqui Marwick, the archaeologist who led the operation. Read more
Video: Update on 2024 season at Blomuir chambered cairn now available
The recording of Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark's Orkney Archaeology Society talk the 2024 excavation season at the Blomuir chambered cairn is now available. Read more
Vinquoy chambered cairn, Eday
We begin a series of posts looking at the Neolithic in Eday with the Vinquoy chambered cairn. Read more
Trust’s ÂŁ357k award sees ‘Tomb of the Eagles’ purchase move a step closer
Plans to reopen the Isbister chambered cairn took a step closer this week with the Scottish Land Fund awarding ÂŁ357,705 to the South Ronaldsay and Burray Development Trust. Read more
Maeshowe – the mummies, the giant and the mound-dweller…
A look at what may have lain behind the 1861 newspaper claim of two mummies and a giant in Maeshowe. Read more
Isbister cairn – the human remains
Isbister was one of the few Orcadian chambered cairns found to contain human remains – in this case, in such quantities that it was declared “the largest assemblage … from any single British Neolithic site.” Read more
The Isbister stalled cairn – South Ronaldsay’s ‘Tomb of the Eagles’
The first part of an article looking at the Isbister stalled cairn in South Ronaldsay, better known today as the Tomb of the Eagles. Read more
The Knowe of Lairo – remodelled to emulate Maeshowe or something completely different?
This week we're looking at the Knowe of Lairo in Rousay - another enigmatic Neolithic chambered cairn unlike any other in Orkney. But what was going on? Read more
Link: New research suggests differing mortuary practices in Rousay cairn
A new paper looking at the bone assemblage from the Rousay’s Knowe of Rowiegar suggests that human remains were placed at different stages of decomposition in a more complex, muti-stage process for handling the dead. Read more
Video: The dead of winter – Maeshowe and the solstice
Today, Saturday, December 21, is the winter solstice - a day inextricably linked to Maeshowe in Stenness. Read more
Egmondshowe and the funerary landscape around Elsness, Sanday
Unpicking the details of a potential chambered cairn in Sanday and the huge barrow cemetery surrounding it. Read more
Quoyness chambered cairn, Sanday
We're back out and about today with a look at the Maeshowe-type Quoyness chambered cairn in Sanday, Orkney. Read more
Mark talks Maeshowe in latest ‘Stone Me’ podcast
Join Ness of Brodgar co-director Professor Mark Edmonds in the latest episode of the Stone Me podcast to look at Maeshowe. Read more
The Dwarfie Stane – talking Trolld, echoes and cliffside caves
The second in our of a two-part look at the Dwarfie Stane in Hoy. As well as finally meeting our dwarf, it considers the acoustics of the area and surveys of the Dwarfie Hamars. Read more
The Dwarfie Stane – ‘one of the wonders of the Orkney Islands’
The first of a two-part article looking at the Dwarfie Stane in Hoy - said to be Britain’s only example of a rock-cut prehistoric tomb. Read more
Stalled cairn excavation monograph now available as a free download
A 2009 book detailing the excavation of a Neolithic stalled cairn in Papa Westray is the latest open access title from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Read more
Taversoe Tuick – the subterranean outer chamber
The final part of our Taversoe Tuick series, this time looking at the subterranean outer chamber. Read more
