Category: Chambered Cairns
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
Taversoe Tuick – its double-decker design and Bronze Age remodelling
In the fourth post, we ponder why the structure incorporated two chambers and look at Bronze Age modifications to the Taversoe Tuick. Read more
Taversoe Tuick – the lower chamber
In the third part of our series, we return to the Taversoe Tuick's lower chamber and its 1937 re-excavation. Read more
Taversoe Tuick – the upper chamber
The second in a series of articles looking at the Neolithic Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn in Rousay. Read more
Video: A visit to Maeshowe 60 years ago
Another from the BBC Archive, again featuring Cathal O’Shannon but this time visiting the Maeshowe chambered cairn in Stenness. Read more
The discovery of the Taversoe Tuick – a ‘most remarkable’ Neolithic cairn
The first in a series of articles looking at the two-storey Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn in Rousay. Read more
Video: Maeshowe and the winter solstice
This Friday, December 22, is the winter solstice - a day intextricably linked to Maeshowe in Stenness. Read more
Midhowe stalled cairn, Rousay
We begin casting our archaeological net even further afield this week, looking at the Midhowe stalled cairn in Rousay. Read more
‘Rediscovering a lost Neolithic tomb’ – OAS talk recording now online
The recording of the Orkney Archaeology Society (OAS) talk on the rediscovery and excavation of a Maeshowe-type chambered cairn in Holm. Read more
Link: East Mainland excavation ‘reveals ruins of huge tomb’
In August and September 2023, excavation in the East Mainland parish of Holm revealed the remains of a Maeshowe-type chambered cairn. Read more
Holm’s forgotten chambered cairn rediscovered in Orkney’s East Mainland
Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an incredibly rare 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered cairn that was largely destroyed, without record, in the 19th century. Read more
Video: Rock art in the Holm of Papa Westray South
The fifth, and final, UHI Archaeology Institute’s Tombs of the Isles recorded talk, again featuring Dr Antonia Thomas, the Ness project’s Neolithic art specialist. Read more
Video: Passage grave art in the North Isles of Orkney
The fourth of the UHI Archaeology Institute’s 'Tombs of the Isles' recorded talks, and the second featuring Dr Antonia Thomas, the Ness' Neolithic art specialist. Read more
Video: Art and architecture in Neolithic Orkney – a talk by Dr Antonia Thomas
The third of the UHI Archaeology Institute’s 'Tombs of the Isles' recorded talks, this time featuring Dr Antonia Thomas, the Ness' Neolithic art specialist. Read more
Video: Death and burial in Neolithic Orkney (Part Two)
The second part of Professor Colin Richard’s talk for the UHI Archaeology Institute’s Tombs of the Isles project. Read more
Video: Death and burial in Neolithic Orkney (Part One)
The first part of Professor Colin Richard's talk for the UHI Archaeology Institute's Tombs of the Isles project. Read more
Burying, depositing and discarding the dead – human remains at the Ness
Mention the Neolithic dead and the focus inevitably shifts to the chambered cairns of Orkney. However, the situation is far more complex. Read more
Vestrafiold – the fake horned cairn
Lying 50 metres east of the megalith quarry on Vestrafiold is an oval mound that was suggested to be the remains of a very poorly preserved stalled cairn. Excavation, however, revealed otherwise. Read more
Halykirk – dolmen or stalled cairn?
As regular readers will have noted, 19th century antiquarians were very keen to find evidence of dolmens in Orkney. Haleykirk/Helyakirk/Halykirk/Holykirk lies about a quarter of a mile to the south-east of the megalithic quarries on Vestrafiold, on the hill of Cruaday. Read more
The Bookan Chambered Cairn
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. Read more
The Ness of Onston enclosure
North of the Unstan stalled cairn is an enigmatic earthwork that separates the landward side of the Ness of Onston from the headland.
This arc of two banks and ditches runs across the width of the headland, demarcating an area to the north that is now devoid of features or visible archaeological remains. Read more