Location Mainland, Orkney Periods Neolithic Public access Yes Owner Historic Scotland | Type Chambered cairn Ownership Historic Scotland Phone +44 1856 841815 Period Neolithic | |
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Address Old Finstown Rd, Orkney KW17 2EJ, UK Hours Open today ยท Open 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hours | ||
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn (grid reference HY364127) is a Neolithic chambered cairn on Mainland in the islands of Orkney about 6 miles west of Kirkwall. Cuween Hill dates to around 3,000 BCE. It is cairn of similar design to Maeshowe, but on a smaller basis. Cuween Hill was constructed as a burial place by a group of Neolithic farmers.
Description
The entry to the tomb is down a narrow passage, partly open to the sky. The main chamber, built on the bedrock, stands well over 2 meters high, and was probably taller before 19th century explorers broke through the roof to gain entry. The roof has been replaced with a modern one. Four small side-cells lead off the main chamber.
Remains of at least eight human burials were found in the chamber along with many animal bones. Most of the human remains consisted of skulls. On the floor of the chamber lay the skulls of 24 small dogs. The discovery of the dog skulls has led to suggestions that the local tribe or family may have had the dog as their symbol or totem. The small number of burials suggests the tomb may have been cleared periodically with only the skulls of recent (or important) individuals left on display.
When the cairn was opened in recent times, it was found to have been carefully blocked up. This could indicate that it was closed permanently when the community stopped using it, or it could mean that tombs like this were closed up regularly between episodes of use.
Access to the cairn is on foot, through the original entrance. Visitors will need to crawl through the passage on their hands and knees. There is enough room inside to stand, but the light is limited. The cairn was excavated in 1901, and it is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. The roof is now a modern concrete dome.
In the 1990s, excavations uncovered the remains of a small Neolithic settlement at Stonehall, below the cairn at the foot of Cuween Hill.