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Iron Age Britain, Barry Cunliffe

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Comet Stone (Orkney) - Standing Stone (Menhir) in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by Steveco on Monday, 20 May 2002  Page Views: 14666

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Comet Stone (Orkney)
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Stromness  Nearest Village: Finstown
Map Ref: HY2963413318  Landranger Map Number: 6
Latitude: 59.001147N  Longitude: 3.226557W
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
no data 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.
4 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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I have visited· I would like to visit

RockHugger visited on 23rd Sep 2016 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 4

NickyD visited on 11th Aug 2015 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

SandyG visited on 9th Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Estrela visited on 29th May 2014 Viewed this at the end of the Brodgar walk with Elaine Clark, the ranger. I mislabelled it at first, but AngieLake corrected me.

43559959 visited on 19th Oct 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Richard13 visited on 1st Jul 1999 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Runemage visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 4 Access: 4

DrewParsons AngieLake jeffrep TimPrevett davidmorgan have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.5 Ambience: 4.67 Access: 4

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by steveco : Comet Stone HY296132 standing 137mtrs SE from the Ring of Brodgar. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Standing Stone in Orkney

The Comet stands 137m SE from the Ring of Brodgar.
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Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Orcadian-Images : by Orcadian Images (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Orcadian-Images (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by davidmorgan : The Comet Stone with the Ring of Brodgar behind. June 2003. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone group HY296133 Orkney (Vote or comment on this photo)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Orcadian-Images : by Orcadian Images (Vote or comment on this photo)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by AngieLake : Just found a couple of pics of the Comet Stone stored on disk from a 2001 visit. (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by SandyG : Comet Stone, Fresh Knowe and Plumcake Mound. View from south east. (9th June 2015). (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by SandyG : Comet Stone and Fresh Knowe. (9th June 2015).

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by SandyG : Ring of Brodgar and South Knowe cairn are visible on the skyline from this point. (9th June 2015).

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by SandyG : Cairns south of the Ring of Brodgar are visible on the skyline from this point as is a hill on distant Hoy. The similarity in appearance between the cairns and hill is noteworthy. (9th June 2015). (2 comments)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by SandyG : Comet stone and its smaller neighbours. View from west. (9th June 2015).

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by 43559959 : The Comet Stone (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone with Fresh Knowe behind (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Estrela : Brodgar walk standing stone (2 comments)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by jeffrep : The Comet Stone, a 5-3/4 foot tall standing stone on a low mound some 450 feet to the southeast of the Ring of Brodgar, with the freshwater Loch of Harray in the background.

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by enkidu41 : HY 296134 This monument is close to the Ring of Brodgar. It stands on a low circular platform and stumps survive of two other stones set at right angles to it.

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone with Ring of Brodgar backdrop HY296133

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone group, view 3 16/7/21

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone group, view 2 16/7/21

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by howar : Comet Stone group, view 1 16/7/21 (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Rizzi : This photo was taken on a very rainy pre-dawn morning on July 10th, 2018

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by ShamrockStone : Comet Stone (Orkney) (1 comment)

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by NickyD : Dawn on a grey day! Image copyright: stonesearcher, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Comet Stone (Orkney)
Comet Stone (Orkney) submitted by Bladup : The Comet Stone with the ring of Brodgar behind.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 79m NNW 334° Fresh Knowe* Long Barrow (HY29601339)
 186m W 279° Ring of Brodgar* Stone Circle (HY29451335)
 226m NW 323° Plumcake Mound* Round Barrow(s) (HY295135)
 226m W 259° South Knowe* Artificial Mound (HY29411328)
 333m W 266° Salt Knowe* Round Barrow(s) (HY293133)
 391m SSW 210° Fairy Well (Stenness)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (HY2943212982)
 488m SW 217° Possible large stone circle in Loch of Stenness Stone Circle (HY2933112934)
 702m SE 125° Brodgar Farm Chambered Tomb Chambered Tomb (HY302129)
 714m ESE 121° Ness of Brodgar* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY3024312941)
 815m WNW 303° Wasbister Burnt Mound* Artificial Mound (HY28961378)
 825m WNW 296° Wasbister Disc Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (HY289137)
 825m WNW 296° Dyke o'Sean* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY289137)
 842m SE 127° Brodgar Farm Standing Stones* Standing Stones (HY303128)
 922m ESE 123° Lochview Mound* Cairn (HY304128)
 934m NW 307° Bookan Cairns* Cairn (HY289139)
 1.0km NW 315° Bookan Stones* Standing Stones (HY28921406)
 1.0km NW 307° Wasbister Cairn* Cairn (HY28811397)
 1.1km SE 126° Watch Stone (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY30551264)
 1.3km ESE 118° Barnhouse Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY30761270)
 1.3km NW 306° Bookan* Chambered Tomb (HY286141)
 1.3km SE 127° Stenness* Stone Circle (HY30671252)
 1.4km NW 313° The Brecks* Cairn (HY286143)
 1.6km NE 56° Campston (Grimeston)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 1.6km NE 56° Grimston Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 1.8km NW 307° Skae Frue* Round Barrow(s) (HY28241440)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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Lines on the Landscape, Circles from the Sky: Monuments of Neolithic Orkney

Lines on the Landscape, Circles from the Sky: Monuments of Neolithic Orkney

Web Links for Comet Stone (Orkney)

There is more between heaven and earth by Victor Reijs
Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

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"Comet Stone (Orkney)" | Login/Create an Account | 15 News and Comments
  
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by Andy B on Monday, 23 October 2017
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Canmore: https://canmore.org.uk/site/1700
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by jeffrep on Monday, 16 August 2010
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Condition: 3
Ambience: 5
Access: 4
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by coldrum on Sunday, 04 April 2010
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Street View


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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Wednesday, 30 December 2009
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Though the main stone itself is aligned with the Ring Of Bookan the Warbuster hill renders this invisible and the large mound on the skyline is the Bookan tomb
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Friday, 14 August 2009
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Used the 10x zoom on my digital camera [380mm equivalent] to examine three of the directions - for even if the indication from the stubs to the SW was a particular one of the lesser mounds without knowledge of any specific importance it is only presently referrable to chance. Looking along the Comet Stone in conjunction with stub i the Ness of Brodgar is perfectly framed, like looking down the barrel of a gun. From the Comet Stone alone to the SE, apart from the Orphir area, the only possibilty is the putative lost stone circle incorporating the Watch Stone. Viewing along the stubs to the NE confirms that it has Staney Hill in its sights, the standing stone being fractionally left of centre with the 'new' site of Henge to its right [both sides of the Grimeston road]. Disappointed to find the white cottage in the NW direction, which means disregard my previous photo info as the Ring of Bookan is on the LH side of the cottage to its left ! As this alignment passes to the east of the Ring of Brodgar I had read this as an ignoring that circle, but someone could instead read the two axes NW and SW directions marking out the area about it instead.
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by jeffrep on Monday, 10 August 2009
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Condition: 4
Ambience: 5
Access: 4
Accuracy:
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Wednesday, 05 August 2009
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Looking at the stubs knew I was reminded of something. The likes of a portal domen (with Stub iii as the backstop) sprang to mind, with the Comet Stone added by a later cultus for the usual reasons. Not too likely. Then I had it. Imagining the two recorded stubs as whole and complete what sprung to mind was the pair of stones in the so-called altar at the Stones of Stenness.
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Tuesday, 04 August 2009
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My stone measurements are likely accurate but the distances between them and across the mound are as near as I could manage alone. {NMRS converted to metric}
The Comet Stone aligns NW/SE and sits in a depression presently measuring 2.7m by 2.3m and 20cm deep. The main stone stands 1.88m at the SE end {1.75m} and 1.97m at the NW, depth 27-28cm {29cm}, width 70cm at base increasing to 73 {76cm}. Measured height differs enough from NMRS to indicate surface erosion [there is a long scrape in the northern half too]. "Lines on the Landscape, Circles from the Sky" by Trevor Garnham gives an alignment to Maes Howe. but unless my compass reading is absolutely useless is incorrect this is not so, explaining why the meticulous antiquarians would miss such a thing- the alignment would seem, rather, to carry on to the Ring of Bookan [though this is on the hillslope invisible from here unless it stood higher formerly or had a superstructure such as a stone ring or posts] and perhaps ? to something roughly in the Dowsgarth region in the other direction. This NW/SE alignment is shared by the Stanerandy Tumulus (for a long while thought to be standing stones) and the Deepdale Stones, both on Mainland, and the Langsteeen on Rousay - we know so few s.s. orientations that there could well be more. The relationship with the recorded 'stubs' is striking, forming a geometric unequal tee-formation. Following the alignment 2.97m {2.67m} brings you to the western edge of Stub i and from that 2.75m takes you to the eastern edge of Stub ii. These define the mound's axes. Axis A , defined by Comet to Stub i 'W', is perpendicular to Axis B which is along the line of the two stubs (a NE/SW alignment shared with the Watch Stone stump and the Spurdagrove s.s. pair). Using 'mound' for the area currently left rough then the mound is 16~16.5m along Axis A and ~11m along Axis B - NMRS gives approximate size of 13.7x12.8 and ~80cm high. At the edge, 6.5m from the Comet Stone's SE end only a few inches away [<5deg] from where Axis A meets the SE periphery, there can be seen the top of another stone, call it Stub iii, that is probably like to Stub i except that only the very top is showing - careful ground prodding proves the top extends beyond the visible surface and I imagine if more were exposed the axial fit might be closer still .Similarly a few inches off Axis B , though roughly a metre short of where this meets the NE periphery, there is a roughly rectangular prostrate Slab 3.98m from Stub i 'E'. There's a slight space underneath where the lower surface has 'flaked' loose fragments [I presume they are from this leastways]. Careful search failed to disclose any further stones, so the fact that these appear to mark the axes ends is fascinating (though what of the other ends ?).
This site shows how size isn't everything. There was a complicated set of ceremonies surrounding matrimony involving all three rings and another Bookan site. Though nothing is recorded for this place, if the early name of Ulie Stane comes from dialect ullie 'oil' might I suggest a reference to chrism and perhaps ceremonies surrounding childbirth ? Note that this was the way to the Ring of Brodgar on the old track that ran through the "sacred monuments", making it a gatekeeper kind-of - in the 19th century gentlemen still doffed their caps to it.
Stub i 67 x 23 and 20-25 high, depth unknown - evidence of post-mediaeval [?modern] break at NE end [Stub i 'E']
Stub ii 39 x 21-25 visible and 27cm high, depth unknown [still whole ??]
Stub iii minimum 20cm down in mound, surface 23 [19 visible] by 15cm, depth unknown
Slab 40x33 and 6cm deep
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    Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Friday, 07 August 2009
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    Viewing along Axis B you see one of the Brodgar cairns, though this is likely to be chance. The other way looks on the 1:25,000 to take you to the Staney Hill standing stone and/or the new site 'Henge'
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    Re: Stumps of stones by the Comet Stone (Orkney) by AngieLake on Saturday, 08 August 2009
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    Howar, did you notice if there were any hidden stumps near any of the points on my dowsing plan? (ie: at places where the movement changed direction, etc.) You'll see I've marked two obvious stumps, one north and one north-west-ish in the plan.
    I'd also remarked on that 2001 plan that Maes Howe was to ESE, and I'd picked up the ritual movement coming in from that direction on that dowsing exercise.
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    Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Sunday, 09 August 2009
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    height of Comet should read 1.88 & 1.68
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by howar on Thursday, 30 July 2009
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Either I missed it before or it has become exposed since, but approaching along the path from the south today there is the top of another stone (slightly further down in ?) the mound. Initially I thought this to be a flat horizontal stone but soon realised that it is of a piece with the companions [i.e. vertical] only not projecting. Even more convinced that the main stone and the rest are not co-eval, though unsure which came first.
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by morphoto on Friday, 03 April 2009
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A single outlier stone adjacent to the Ring of Brodgar. Easy to locate and to walk to. Great place to shoot the ring to get scale and perspective.
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by morphoto on Friday, 03 April 2009
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Condition:5
Ambiance:5
Access:4
Accuracy:0
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Re: Comet Stone (Orkney) by Anonymous on Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Condition:4
Ambience:5
Access:4
Accuracy:5 HY29631331
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