Category: Chambered Cairns
Just under three miles to the east of Cuween Hill, on the steep, upper slopes of Wideford Hill, is a second Neolithic passage grave.
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The Cuween cairn is built on an artificial terrace on the upper slopes of Cuween Hill's eastern side. Cuween is a Maeshowe-type cairn consisting of a “roughly rectangular” central chamber with four smaller cells branching off from each side.
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Evidence calls into question many assumptions surrounding chambered cairns and, indeed, Neolithic architecture. Not all structures were meant to be the steadfast edifices.
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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.
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The earliest account of Maeshowe is found within the pages of the Orkneyinga saga, which says Viking warriors sought shelter in the chamber in 1153.
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With its south-westerly facing entrance, Maeshowe’s best known attribute is its orientation towards the setting sun around midwinter.
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The solstice, an earlier building and standing stone and Norse runes.
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Probably the best-known Neolithic chambered cairn in Orkney, Maeshowe stands less than a mile to the east of the Ness of Brodgar complex.
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In the late 19th century, the Knowe of Onston was opened and found to contain the remains of a Neolithic stalled cairn.
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Just outside Stenness village, and opposite the Standing Stones Hotel, is a large oval mound. The tumulus was given scheduled monument status in 2002 and assigned the name “Little Barnhouse”.
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Jim Richardson visiting the Ness in 2019. (📷 Jo Bourne)In 2012, Jim Richardson visited the Ness to capture images for a planned National Geographic feature article.The resultant images were truly…
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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…
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The presence of two main styles of Neolithic chambered cairn in Orkney has led to years of debate on their dates, use and development. Here, Sigurd looks at current thinking…
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