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<< Our Photo Pages >> Knowe of Stenso - Broch or Nuraghe in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by howar on Sunday, 09 December 2007  Page Views: 7227

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Knowe of Stenso Alternative Name: Know of Stenso, How of Stenso
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Broch or Nuraghe
Nearest Town: Finstown  Nearest Village: Evie
Map Ref: HY3639426747
Latitude: 59.122782N  Longitude: 3.112811W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : Knowe of Stenso seen from road going to toilet block (Vote or comment on this photo)
Broch in Orkney

NMRS record HY32NE 11 is a 4m high broch with extensive structural remains showing as orthostats between the main broch and the outer bank to the south. Area covered is fifty by ten yards according to a 1916 report. At least as late as 1928 traces of a foot wide gallery were seen at the top of the mound, but I have not entered the field itself to check this. On the north side several courses of the broch wall, probably 12' thick, can be seen for distance of 20'. It is from this that a seal bone borer came. Other finds include two beads and numerous likely pot lids. In 1916 locals remembered Johnny Fea going inside far enough to hear otters at work !

This site sits on the midpoint of a line from the St.Nicholas site to the Knowe of Ryo/Grugar measuring a nautical mile. I went along the coast at a reasonably low tide after going down to the Sands of Evie and turning left. Not too dangerous. From all round a conical tip can be seen that is the top of the surviving broch tower. The fence being too taut to enter the field I contended myself with clambering up the cliff edge. By the inner edge of the fence several upright slabs can be seen to outline one or more rectangular structures. The mound by the outer fence edge appears to consist of rich dark earth with a very few small holes that are either rodent burrows or preferential storm damage. The site resembles Ingshowe broch in being built directly upon horizontal rock strata. Above this is a thick layer of grass and earth, so the only material you can see here are several projecting slabs at the south side beyondt he central mound.
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Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by SandyG : View from the north. (13th June 2015). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by SandyG : View from north west. This broch is very susceptible to coastal erosion. (13th June 2015). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : Knowe of Stenso seen from Burgar Hill above (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : From Sands of Evie, with Vinquin Broch on skyline in far distance. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : Seen from Broch of Gurness.

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : central mound and shore side from the north

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : broch wall from larger image

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : N side of central mound with broch wall exposed

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : Site seen from the north

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : Cliff section south side of site, slabs projecting from earth above strata

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : South view of east structure/s by fence

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : West across top of mound

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : North along fence-line, structure showing

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : North across top with peak of broch wall at right

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : From top looking down on 'ditch' with structural remains

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : South view of site field

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : structural remains in 'ditch' between broch mound and outer south bank["unsurveyable"]

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : East side of site with Knowe of Ryo/Grugar in background right

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : South view of site from cemetery road going down to beach

Knowe of Stenso
Knowe of Stenso submitted by howar : View of site from main road to the north

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 933m NW 305° Knowe of Grugar* Broch or Nuraghe (HY35642730)
 1.1km WNW 282° Grugar* Carving (HY353270)
 1.5km NW 308° Burgar* Broch or Nuraghe (HY352277)
 1.8km E 86° Aikerness Class I Pictish Symbol Stone (HY38182685)
 1.8km E 86° Gurness* Broch or Nuraghe (HY3818926842)
 1.9km WNW 303° West Broch of Burgar* Chambered Cairn (HY34822782)
 2.2km SE 139° Quoys Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn (HY37822507)
 2.5km SE 139° Redland South* Chambered Cairn (HY38002484)
 3.0km NE 41° Westness Chambererd Tomb* Chambered Tomb (HY38402898)
 3.1km ENE 63° Viera Lodge Broch or Nuraghe (HY392281)
 3.1km NNE 20° Knowe of Swandro* Chambered Cairn (HY37532966)
 3.2km NNE 16° Knowe of Rowiegar* Chambered Cairn (HY37332978)
 3.3km NW 305° Peterkirk* Broch or Nuraghe (HY337287)
 3.7km ENE 70° Knowe of Lairo* Chambered Cairn (HY39922796)
 3.7km ENE 78° Knowe of Burrian (Frotoft)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40062745)
 3.8km ENE 70° Knowe of Ramsay* Chambered Cairn (HY40042800)
 3.8km NNE 11° Midhowe Chambered Cairn* Chambered Cairn (HY37223051)
 3.9km N 11° Midhowe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY372306)
 4.0km WNW 292° Vinquin* Broch or Nuraghe (HY32682830)
 4.0km N 8° North Howe Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY3705130722)
 4.1km ENE 78° Langstane (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY404275)
 4.1km ESE 116° Ness of Woodwick* Broch or Nuraghe (HY40072487)
 4.2km ENE 73° Knowe of Yarso* Chambered Cairn (HY40482795)
 4.6km SE 132° Knowe of Midgarth* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY39812361)
 5.1km E 84° Knowe of Hunclett* Broch or Nuraghe (HY41442722)
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