<< Our Photo Pages >> Blackhammer - Chambered Tomb in Scotland in Orkney
Submitted by Steveco on Monday, 20 May 2002 Page Views: 10467
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: BlackhammerCountry: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Chambered Tomb
Nearest Town: Kirkwall Nearest Village: Brinian
Map Ref: HY41422761 Landranger Map Number: 5
Latitude: 59.131253N Longitude: 3.025266W
Condition:
| 5 | Perfect |
| 4 | Almost Perfect |
| 3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
| 2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
| 1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
| 0 | No data. |
| -1 | Completely destroyed |
| 5 | Superb |
| 4 | Good |
| 3 | Ordinary |
| 2 | Not Good |
| 1 | Awful |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
| 4 | Short walk on a footpath |
| 3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
| 2 | A long walk |
| 1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
| 4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
| 3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
| 2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
| 1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
| 0 | no data |
Internal Links:
External Links:
I have visited· I would like to visit
drolaf visited on 9th Jun 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5
bishop_pam visited on 25th Apr 2018 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
SandyG visited on 3rd Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4
Jansold visited on 6th Jun 2013 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4
rrmoser DrewParsons jeffrep TimPrevett Redfun have visited here
Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.5 Ambience: 4.75 Access: 4
Additional information added by Drew Parsons September 2010:
Over the 4500 - 5000 years since it was built, this cairn had become badly damaged and so a concrete cover was installed above it to protect what remained. This description might put some folk off, but what is left under the concrete roof and walls is well worth a visit.
The site is located just above the coastal road around the island of Rousay and easily accessed along a short path signposted from the road. It has grand views across the sound to Mainland and Wyre.
Excavated in 1936 this stalled cairn gave up the remains of two burials, one in the entrance and one at the western end of the chamber. Finds included neolithic pot sherds, flint tools, and animal and bird bones with many showing evidence of burning.
The original 3 metre passage entrance to the chamber has been replaced by a sliding door with steps down into the once corbel roofed chamber. Outside, a small glass covered inspection window allows you to see something of the original wall construction of layers of stone in hatched triangle form and reminiscent of the designs seen on Unstan Ware - the local pottery of that era. The chamber is 7.3 metres long and has 7 stalls or compartments where once burial remains would have been laid to rest. It was sealed up upon finally being abandoned.
You may be viewing yesterday's version of this page. To see the most up to date information please register for a free account.
These are just the first 25 photos of Blackhammer. If you log in with a free user account you will be able to see our entire collection.
Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
Click here to see more info for this site
Nearby sites
Click here to view sites on an interactive OS mapKey: Red: member's photo, Blue: 3rd party photo, Yellow: other image, Green: no photo - please go there and take one, Grey: site destroyed
Download sites to:
KML (Google Earth)
GPX (GPS waypoints)
CSV (Garmin/Navman)
CSV (Excel)
To unlock full downloads you need to sign up as a Contributory Member. Otherwise downloads are limited to 50 sites.
Turn off the page maps and other distractions
Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
390m S 176° Knowe of Hunclett* Broch or Nuraghe (HY41442722)
997m WNW 289° Knowe of Yarso* Chambered Cairn (HY40482795)
1.0km W 263° Langstane (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY404275)
1.1km E 89° Taversoe Tuick* Chambered Cairn (HY42572761)
1.4km W 262° Knowe of Burrian (Frotoft)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40062745)
1.4km WNW 285° Knowe of Ramsay* Chambered Cairn (HY40042800)
1.5km WNW 282° Knowe of Lairo* Chambered Cairn (HY39922796)
1.8km NE 36° Tammaskirk* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY42502907)
2.3km WNW 282° Viera Lodge Broch or Nuraghe (HY392281)
2.5km E 80° Cubbie Roo's Burden* Chambered Cairn (HY43932800)
3.0km SSW 205° Ness of Woodwick* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40072487)
3.3km WNW 294° Westness Chambererd Tomb* Chambered Tomb (HY38402898)
3.3km WSW 256° Gurness* Broch or Nuraghe (HY3818926842)
3.3km WSW 256° Aikerness Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (HY38182685)
3.4km ESE 114° Braes of Ha’Breck, Wyre. Ancient Village or Settlement (HY445262)
4.0km N 7° Knowe of Craie* Chambered Cairn (HY41963153)
4.3km SSW 201° Knowe of Midgarth* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY39812361)
4.4km WNW 297° Knowe of Swandro* Chambered Cairn (HY37532966)
4.4km SW 230° Redland South* Chambered Cairn (HY38002484)
4.4km SW 234° Quoys Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn (HY37822507)
4.5km NNE 12° Kierfea Hill (Rousay) Cairn (HY42423196)
4.6km WNW 297° Knowe of Rowiegar* Chambered Cairn (HY37332978)
5.0km SSW 194° Tingwall Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY401228)
5.0km NNE 24° Bigland Long (Rousay) Cairn (HY43533214)
5.1km NNW 339° Knowe of Lingro Cairn (HY3964832378)
View more nearby sites and additional images
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.