Wideford Hill chambered cairn
Just under three miles to the east of Cuween Hill, on the steep, upper slopes of Wideford Hill, is a second Neolithic passage grave. Read more
Category: Chambered Cairns
Cuween chambered cairn
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. Read more
Not all monuments were created equal: part two
Evidence calls into question many assumptions surrounding chambered cairns and, indeed, Neolithic architecture. Not all structures were meant to be the steadfast edifices. Read more
Not all monuments were created equal
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. Read more
Maeshowe – historic additions, incursions and the Norse runes
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. Read more
Maeshowe and the winter solstice
With its south-westerly facing entrance, Maeshowe’s best known attribute is its orientation towards the setting sun around midwinter. Read more
A standing stone at Maeshowe and the structure that lies beneath
The solstice, an earlier building and standing stone and Norse runes. Read more
Unstan stalled cairn
In the late 19th century, the Knowe of Onston was opened and found to contain the remains of a Neolithic stalled cairn. Read more
The ‘Little Barnhouse’ mound
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”. Read more
A master of his art – Jim Richardson photographs from around the Ness
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… Read more
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… Read more
Agents of transformation – chambered cairns in Neolithic Orkney
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… Read more
