Further afield: Quanterness chambered cairn
“Situated on a gentle declivity, under the brow of Wideford Hill, it looks towards the North Isles.”
Rev George Barry. The History of the Orkney Islands.… Continue reading
Category: Chambered Cairns
Further afield: Wideford Hill chambered cairn
“In the Bay of Firth, Wideford and Cuween were set into the side of the hills that frame the area. In fact, they look across the bay at each other, their combined gaze taking in a wider neighbourhood.… Continue reading
Further afield: Cuween chambered cairn
“Set some way upslope, they also looked down on land where settlements had been established for some time. Held at a respectful distance, the spirits of each place kept an eye on the living.… Continue reading
Not all monuments were created equal: part two
‘Expedient architecture’ and the Neolithic long cairns of Orkney
Part one available here
By Sigurd Towrie
Point of Cott, Westray, Orkney
Under threat of destruction, due to coastal erosion, the long cairn at the Point of Cott, Westray, was completely excavated in 1984/85 [4].… Continue reading
Not all monuments were created equal
‘Expedient architecture’ and the Neolithic long cairns of Orkney
Part One
By Sigurd Towrie
Visitors to the Ness of Brodgar dig will probably have heard “surface over substance” used to describe the construction of some of the structures on site.… Continue reading
Around the Ness: Howe, Stromness
“A slightly different form of expansion may be present at Howe, Stromness, Mainland, where two buildings initially interpreted as a stalled tomb and mortuary house, due to the presence of hearths, can be confidently re-interpreted as early Neolithic houses facing one another.”… Continue reading
Around the Ness: The Bookan Chambered Cairn
By Sigurd Towrie
At some point in the Neolithic a small, multi-chambered structure was built on high ground at the north-western end of the Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading
Around the Ness: Maeshowe – part two
By Sigurd Towrie
(Part One here)
Based on shared architectural elements, Maeshowe has given its name to a specific class of chambered cairn.… Continue reading
Around the Ness: Maeshowe
“But the most remarkable tumulus in Orkney is situated to the north-east of the Ring of Stenness and is called M’eshoo or Meashowe (sic).”… Continue reading
Around the Ness: Unstan Chambered Cairn
By Sigurd Towrie
In the late 19th century, a grassy mound on a headland jutting into the Stenness loch attracted the attention of one of the many antiquarians with their sights on Orkney’s suspected ancient monuments.… Continue reading
Around the Ness: ‘Little Barnhouse’ mound
By Sigurd Towrie
Most visitors to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site will be familiar with Maeshowe. Few, however, will know that what appears to be an equally large chambered cairn stands by the roadside about a mile to the west.… Continue reading
Photographic mastery – Jim Richardson views from around the Ness
In 2012, Jim Richardson visited the Ness to capture images for a planned National Geographic feature article.
The resultant images were truly awe-inspiring and today, thanks to Jim’s generosity, we’re able to share a selection with you.… Continue reading
The trouble with Cuween: human remains from Neolithic Orkney
Do we have evidence of ritualised violence at Cuween? A video lecture from Dr Rebecca Crozier, well-known in Orkney for her work at the Quanterness Chambered Cairn, released as part of the University of Aberdeen’s Festival of Archaeology.… Continue reading
Agents of transformation – the role of chambered cairns in Neolithic Orkney
The presence of two styles of Neolithic chambered cairn in Orkney has led to years of debate on their dates, use and development.… Continue reading
