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HurkisgarthRound Barrow(s) |
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Fieldnotes |
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Visited 6.6.12 The Barrow is visible from the road as a low mound. I would put its height at only about 1 metre at most. It is certainly now looks lower than when last visited. |
Posted by CARL 16th July 2012ce Edited 16th July 2012ce |
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At the lower end of the Loch of Skaill take the B9055, the road on which you see a phonebox against a house. The site is at the far roadside corner of the field past this. A modest and assuming earthen barrow. Once upon a time a cist was found here. In 1946 it was no longer, but RCAHMS reported a tradition of a chambered structure. In 1967 it was believed this roughly circular mound could well be it. If so it looks as if several stones from the chamber/s have been re-used as there are several over half a metre in the drystane wall alongside that are very out-of-place. The mound is about 15m across and 1.2m high. RCAHMS also describe it as flat-topped, but this is a relative term. Like most earthen mounds it has a bland covering of grass. Alas I did not walk upon it as a tall 'Orkney gate' stood in my way. Not photogenic in itself, it commands a broad panoramic view of the Sandwick countryside about as you can tell even from the roadside. This 'dominion' includes several lochs and many sites of various Ages, including well-known tumuli and tombs. It must surely have been a site of some importance due to these vistas, only the hills above the Loch of Skaill (Kier Fiold and Sand Fiold) overlooking blocking the view somewhat - though you can still see Skaill House and everything to its left from here . |
Posted by wideford29th September 2004ce Edited 29th September 2004ce |
Miscellaneous |
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| Chambered structure given two possible locations by NMRS - HY21NE 43 at HY25451770 (as fieldnotes, cist now gone and barrow) and HY21NE 44 at 2523 1755 (indeterminate structures a.k.a. Howans where were well and 2 "ancient Broughs" not on present-day map). O.N.B. seems to confirm former. |
Posted by wideford 28th July 2005ce Edited 16th September 2005ce |
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