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<< Our Photo Pages >> Maes Howe - Chambered Cairn in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by Andy B on Wednesday, 07 September 2016  Page Views: 37227

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Maes Howe Alternative Name: Maeshowe
Country: Scotland
NOTE: This site is 1.3 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Orkney Type: Chambered Cairn
Nearest Town: Stromness  Nearest Village: Finstown
Map Ref: HY31821277  Landranger Map Number: 6
Latitude: 58.996582N  Longitude: 3.188347W
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
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 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

SteveC whese001 would like to visit

drolaf visited on 3rd Jul 2023 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4 I visited the mound in 2022 and inside 2023. you aren't allowed to take photos inside. The tour guide was up to date and covered the neolithic and much later norse visitors and runes. There is a very good article on the passage alignment in the 2023 issue of the Orkney Archaeology review £10. https://shop.orkneyarchaeologysociety.org.uk/product-category/books/ Their website has lots more info on Maes and Orkney and it is only £15 to join, £10 for pensioners (you get sent the annual review)

Catrinm visited on 28th Aug 2019 Great architectural skills

bishop_pam visited on 18th Apr 2018 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

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

SandyG visited on 11th Jun 2015 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

Jansold visited on 3rd Jun 2013 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

freedomandpeace visited on 3rd May 2013 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5 I was very disappointed in my visit here. This tomb is way too restricted in my opinion. I don't know why they don't let people just go in on their own and explore like they do in most other places in Scotland (except Skara Brae). There are places to explore in there but they are off limits. The tour is boring and only goes just inside the first part of the tomb. I feel like I didn't even really see the tomb even though I went on the tour, because we were not allowed to explore. Maeshowe is so hyped up and therefore I was so excited to see it. However, I found the tour boring and repressive. I would rather go someplace I can explore freely.

43559959 visited on 28th Oct 2011 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

crystalskull84 visited on 13th Aug 2011 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4

megalithicmatt visited on 22nd Jun 2011 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Second visit - better tour guide this time!

jeffrep visited on 29th Jun 2010 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 First visit: August 15, 2007.

JCBH visited on 27th Apr 2010 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Maes Howe

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

DocRock visited on 1st Mar 1999 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Excellent site. Great inscriptions.

DocRock visited on 1st Mar 1999 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Excellent site. Great inscriptions.

ladydi45 visited on 3rd Jun 1998 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Andy B: would like to visit Shown first from the air in Episode Three of BBC's History of Ancient Britain

smparry123 visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 4

Tonnox rrmoser rldixon AngieLake DrewParsons TimPrevett davidmorgan MegalithJunkie HaggisAction NickyD Redfun have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.31 Ambience: 4.88 Access: 4.13

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by howar : distant Maes Howe ablaze with sun, viewed from the bird hut near the Barnhouse settlement (Vote or comment on this photo)
A Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave situated on Mainland Orkney, Scotland. It is the largest tomb in Orkney, made of 30 tons of sandstone. Built originally by grooved ware people, the site is close to several other significant ancient monuments thought to be contemporary with Maeshowe.

It was looted by Vikings (Earl Harald Maddadarson and Ragnvald, Earl of Moer[1]) in c. 11th century CE, who left, in their passing, a series of runic graffiti on the stone walls of the chamber while they sheltered. There are over thirty individual inscriptions, the largest collection in the world. The corbelled roof was shattered in 1861 by overenthusiastic archaeologists. Luckily, they did relatively little structural damage and the site still represents a standard of exacting design and construction not found anywhere else in the British Isles.
It gives its name to the Maeshowe type of chambered cairn, which bears no similarities to any other known chambered cairn design, either in Orkney or elsewhere.

The monuments around Maeshowe, including Skara Brae, were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

More on this site at Orkneyjar

Below the first mention of Maes Howe in History from about 1040 CE: "Earl Harald set out for Orkney at Christmas with 4 ships and 100 men. He lay for 2 days off Graemsay, then put in at Hamna Voe on mainland, and on the 13th day of the storm they took shelter in Maeshowe and there 2 of them went insane, which slowed them down badly, so that by the time they reached Firth it was night-time." (The Orkneying Saga - The History Of The earls Of Orkney, Penguin Classics, translated by Hermann Palsson and Paul Edwards, 1978-1981.)

Text by Vicky Morgan

Note: Speculatively reconstructed Viking music: Ice and Longboats: Ancient Music of Scandinavia. Also Maeshowe to close 26th september for undetermined period due to traffic safety concerns. More on both of these in the comments on our page.
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Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Victor Reijs : Winter solstice sunset at Maes Howe (6 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Bladup : Inside Maes Howe. This Original Artwork in a glass frame is £39.99 + Postage (Just whatever it costs), and is 18 cm x 12 and a half cm. A limited (to a 100) edition print in a 8" x 10" glass frame would be £19.99 + £2.90 postage, E-mail me at paul.blades@rocketmail.com if interested. (2 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by megalithicmatt : Under cloud cover. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Tonnox : Maes Howe (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by durhamnature : Old photo from "Stonehenge...." via archive.org (Vote or comment on this photo)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by AngieLake : This is [quote] :"Captain Thomas's plan of the prehistoric sites in the vicinity of Maes Howe, 1852. Maes Howe itself is not on the plan but off top right. Thomas, though, does give an elevation of the great mound." He also drew the stones of the Ring of Brodgar along the top, and you can't avoid seeing the large tumulus on the Ness of Brodgar. The two standing stones are also shown. These are v... (2 comments)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by jeffrep : Maeshowe Chambered Cairn, Mainland Orkney, Scotland.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by DrewParsons : The site sign with a translation of some of the Viking runic script. September 2010.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by howar : Mound and bank from main road

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Parns : The entrance tunnel.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by 43559959 : Maes Howe, site in the Orkneys Mainland.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by AngieLake : "A general view of Maes Howe in 1861 by A. Gibb and published in Farrer's account of the discovery of the runes, 1862." [Copied from Historic Scotland's 2000 publication: Maes Howe World Heritage Site, The Official Souvenir Guide.] This view towards the Ness of Brodgar shows Stenness at extreme left [could not get all that area in scan], to the Ring of Brodgar on extreme right.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by davidmorgan : Perusing the information boards. May 2003. (2 comments)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by rldixon : detail of runes on doorway 15-6-2005 (1 comment)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by rldixon : a photo i took of the runes june 15th 2005

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Orcadian-Images : by Orcadian Images

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by howar : View from kirk junction - surely the bank is more impressive than the mound as originally approached (2 comments)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by enkidu41 : HY 317127 The celebrated passage grave on Mainland. It is constructed of close-fitting dressed sandstone slabs and covered by a mound 24' high and 110' across. It is surrounded by a wide ditch.

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Jon :

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Jon (1 comment)

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Jon

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Tonnox : Maes Howe

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Tonnox

Maes Howe
Maes Howe submitted by Tonnox

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There is more between heaven and earth by Victor Reijs
Stones of Wonder by Robert Pollock
Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
There is more between heaven and earth by Victor Reijs
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Charles Tait Photographic by Charles Tait
Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed
STILE by Clive Ruggles


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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 812m SW 221° Barnhouse Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY31271217)
 1.1km W 265° Barnhouse Settlement* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY30761270)
 1.2km WSW 257° Stenness* Stone Circle (HY30671252)
 1.2km NNW 342° Vola* Round Barrow(s) (HY31471395)
 1.3km W 263° Watch Stone (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY30551264)
 1.4km W 270° Lochview Mound* Cairn (HY304128)
 1.5km W 270° Brodgar Farm Standing Stones* Standing Stones (HY303128)
 1.6km W 275° Ness of Brodgar* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY3024312941)
 1.6km W 274° Brodgar Farm Chambered Tomb Chambered Tomb (HY302129)
 1.6km NNW 329° Grimston Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 1.6km NNW 329° Campston (Grimeston)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY310142)
 1.9km SW 233° Standing Stones Hotel* Chambered Cairn (HY30251165)
 2.2km WNW 283° Comet Stone (Orkney)* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY2963413318)
 2.3km N 359° Langskaill Mound* Artificial Mound (HY31811505)
 2.3km WNW 285° Fresh Knowe* Long Barrow (HY29601339)
 2.4km W 274° Fairy Well (Stenness)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (HY2943212982)
 2.4km WNW 286° Plumcake Mound* Round Barrow(s) (HY295135)
 2.4km WNW 283° Ring of Brodgar* Stone Circle (HY29451335)
 2.5km W 281° South Knowe* Artificial Mound (HY29411328)
 2.5km W 273° Possible large stone circle in Loch of Stenness Stone Circle (HY2933112934)
 2.6km W 281° Salt Knowe* Round Barrow(s) (HY293133)
 2.7km N 357° Feolquoy* Round Barrow(s) (HY31741551)
 2.7km N 5° Venus of the Whins* Round Barrow(s) (HY321155)
 2.8km ENE 74° Hill of Heddle* Round Barrow(s) (HY345135)
 2.8km N 3° Staney stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY320156)
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 Maes Howe

There is more between heaven and earth by Victor Reijs
Stones of Wonder by Robert Pollock
Stone Pages (Still Images) by Arosio and Meozzi
There is more between heaven and earth by Victor Reijs
Stone Pages Tour by Arosio and Meozzi

Archived Web links for Maes Howe

Charles Tait Photographic by Charles Tait
Ancient Sites Directory by Chris Tweed
STILE by Clive Ruggles

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"Maes Howe" | Login/Create an Account | 28 News and Comments
  
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Maes Howe Winter Solstice Sunset Livecam 2021 by Runemage on Monday, 20 December 2021
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Historic Scotland

FB https://www.facebook.com/events/463876718684388


Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IBIWm7Zoro&ab_channel=HistoricEnvironmentScotland
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Maes Howe Winter Solstice Sunset Livecam 2021 by Runemage on Wednesday, 22 December 2021
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    If you missed the live broadcast, the video's there to watch anytime. I thought it was well-presented, enough explanation for an introduction to the site for people who aren't aware of the constructions and chronology of Neolithic Orkney and more detail for those who already know the basics.

    One thing that Colin Richards said I'd never heard before. Maeshowe's ditch had no causeway, therefore the mound wasn't intended as a place for the living to go, the spectacle was in its construction, and the effects of the solstice sun could have been for the occupants of the mound. It's about 5 minutes into the video. "You've got the strong possibility that once it's built, no-one's going into it" Interesting concept I think.
    [ Reply to This ]

Ice and Longboats: Ancient Music of Scandinavia and other ancient music CD releases by Andy B on Wednesday, 07 September 2016
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Review of Ice and Longboats: Ancient Music of Scandinavia,
[speculatively reconstructed Viking music]

Kate Molleson writes: There is Viking graffiti etched into the stones of Maeshowe on Orkney: “Thorfir woz ere”, it declares, in effect - evidence of cheeky warriors sheltering in the ancient burial place around Christmas, 1153. That runic equivalent of a latterday cock-and-balls always struck me as whimsical because it’s usually so hard to imagine Vikings having anything much resembling fun. Did they goof around? Did they sing and dance? This meticulously researched album from Sweden’s Ensemble Mare Balticum imagines the instruments Vikings played and the voices they sang with, opening with an eerily plain little tune on medieval bone recorder and progressing through staunch ritual numbers for lyres and frame drums to lush polyphonic hymns in praise of early Scandinavian Christian saints. The instrumentals are pretty dry, but the singing of Ute Goedecke and Aino Lund Lavoipierre is gorgeous: two pure and fulsome voices, beautifully matched.

More about this and the other European Music Archaeology Project CD releases in our Music thread (down the page a bit)
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Re: Maes Howe by howar on Wednesday, 07 September 2016
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CLOSED September 26th indefinitely owing to traffic concerns
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    Maeshowe to ‘temporarily close’ due to traffic / health and safety concerns by Andy B on Wednesday, 07 September 2016
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    Maeshowe will close to the public on September 26.

    Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced the temporary closure of Maeshowe due to health and safety concerns.

    The 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered cairn will close to the public on September 26 and HES said it will not reopen until the health and safety concerns are addressed.

    The monument is currently accessed from Tormiston Mill and the adjacent car park, located across the busy A965 road.

    HES has been monitoring safety issues for staff and visitors relating to vehicle movements, and “consider there to be significant risks to staff and visitors which cannot be mitigated effectively at this time”.

    Read more at
    http://www.orcadian.co.uk/maeshowe-temporarily-close-due-health-safety-concerns/
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Maeshowe to ‘temporarily close’ due to traffic / health and safety concerns by chrispy on Monday, 19 February 2018
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      Checking the Maeshowe website (Feb 2018) visitors are now asked to park at the new visitor centre at Stenness and a bus takes you to the site. Viewing is by guided tour only and advanced booking is strongly recommended. This is a Historic Scotland site and a charge applies for non- members. It is open all year round except for 25 / 26 December and 1 / 2 January.
      [ Reply to This ]
    Site access at Maeshowe, temporary closure to Orkney monument announced by Andy B on Wednesday, 07 September 2016
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    Temporary closure to Orkney monument announced

    Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced a temporary closure of one of its Orkney sites due to health and safety concerns.

    Maeshowe is currently accessed from Tormiston Mill and the adjacent car park, located across the busy A965 road. HES have been monitoring safety issues for staff and visitors relating to vehicle movements, and consider there to be significant risks to staff and visitors which cannot be mitigated effectively at this time. Tormiston Mill and Maeshowe will therefore be temporarily closed to public access from week commencing September 26th, with staff being re-deployed to other duties on Orkney. There will be no job losses, and staff will receive full support from the organisation in this period.

    Dr David Mitchell, Director of Conservation and Acting Chief Executive, said, “The HES Board recently considered a development proposal which looked at the site infrastructure. They wish to discuss the project further with Orkney Islands Council. This was a catalyst for us to re-assess the risks associated with the site and in consequence we have decided to effect a temporary site closure until the identified risk can be mitigated to a satisfactory level. We are currently planning to temporarily close Maeshowe and Tormiston Mill from week commencing 26th of September.

    “This is not a decision we take lightly, but our primary focus must be the safety of our staff and visitors. Staff are being temporarily re-deployed to other duties, and we are looking at routes to enhance our normal offer over the winter period. In the longer term, we are absolutely committed to finding a long-term solution for this site and working with our partners to conserve and share the wonderful heritage assets in Orkney.

    “We will of course continue to conserve the site, and hope to see a positive resolution so we can continue to let visitors enjoy a special place.”

    As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.

    Historic Scotland is a sub brand of Scotland’s new public heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland, a registered Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity No. SC045925

    https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/site-access-at-maeshowe/?hootPostID=76ae9696e9d5e7afab7cd6a2ce8506bc
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Site access at Maeshowe, temporary closure to Orkney monument announced by Andy B on Wednesday, 07 September 2016
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      ...what a a bit of luck that the suggested safety concerns only became significant enough to close the site after the end of the tourist season... Hmmm.
      [ Reply to This ]

Maeshowe closed for 10 days to add roof insulation! by Andy B on Thursday, 10 March 2016
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OK not really, it's the visitor centre at Tormiston Mill which should be getting a bit more toasty for visitors, but unfortunately that means the temporary closure of the tomb to visitors.

Historic Environment Scotland says that the Maeshowe Neolithic chambered cairn is now closed to visitors until later this month, due to work taking place at the visitor centre at Tormiston Mill.

A spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland said: “We are currently carrying out works to insulate the roof space of Tormiston Mill. Whilst the nearby chambered cairn will not be directly affected by these works, the necessary closure of the visitor centre unfortunately means that there will be no access between 7 and 18 March.

Source:
http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2016/03/maeshowe-closed-to-visitors/
and with thanks to Howar for the info
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Maeshowe closed for 10 days to add roof insulation! by Anonymous on Saturday, 12 March 2016
    Oh thank goodness for the explanation! The idea of expanded polystyrene tiles on the ceiling of Maes Howe beggars belief.

    Great place, well worth a visit. Ours cost us a couple of thousand pounds. There were other sights to see on the Hebridean Princess Cruise but Maes Howe was the one which made it worthwhile.

    The rest was wonderful too though...
    [ Reply to This ]

Virtual tour of Maeshowe created using 3D laser-scanning data by Andy B on Wednesday, 29 August 2012
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A virtual tour of Maeshowe has been created using 3D laser-scanning data collected to aid with the conservation and interpretation of the site through the Scottish Ten project – a collaboration between Historic Scotland, Glasgow School of Art and CyArk to document Scotland’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and five international sites using digital technologies.

[Look out for the rather creepy and non Orcadian 'nuciear family' floating ghost-like outside the tomb]



With thanks to Cosmic for the link
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Virtual tour of Maeshowe created using 3D laser-scanning data by Runemage on Thursday, 30 August 2012
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    That is pure magic,*Thank-you* It's also the first time the side chambers have been shown in 3D. You can't go in them on a guided tour, they are roped off.
    There's also no access for wheelchairs, the entrance passageway is too low, so anyone who has not been able to actually visit will be able to see what they've missed and more.
    [ Reply to This ]

Reappearing sun light in Maeshowe, Orkney by Victor Reijs by Andy B on Sunday, 19 August 2012
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The reappearing sunlight on December 1st, 1998. The first ever videotaped event. By Victor Reijs
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    The reappearing Sun in Neolithic Orcadian culture by: Victor Reijs by Andy B on Monday, 12 November 2018
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    Based on assay for the MA-CAA module Archaeoastronomy at University of Wales,
    Trinity Saint David, Lampeter. Reworked on October 13th, 2012
    Introduction
    This Research Project investigates the horizon phenomenon of the reappearing Sun
    from several monuments part of Neolithic Orcadian culture in Scotland .
    Within Maeshowe, a chambered cairn dating from between 3100 to 2700 BCE, one can experience the Sun setting some 20 days before/after Winter Solstice day behind Ward Hill and reappearing for a few minutes at the right slope of Ward Hill.

    Witnessing this phenomenon in 1998, not experienced in the recent past, was a very
    exciting and unforgettable event. To an observer standing in front of Maeshowe; some 41 days before/after WS day, the Sun reappears from behind the right slope of Cuilags (Kame of Hoy), before it finally sets. This reappearance cannot be witnessed from within Maeshowe.

    As this reappearing Sun is a phenomenon of the horizon (foresight) due the steep slope of the hills; it can also be witnessed at other locations on Orkney. Based on computer prediction, Ness of Brodgar and Breckness were videotaped in 1999.

    Did humans made here spatial foci (backsights)? Present day excavations at Ness of Brodgar and field walks at Breckness show that there might be artificial foci.

    http://www.archaeocosmology.org/eng/VictorReijs-ReappearingSun-014-web.pdf
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Maes Howe by neolithique02 on Monday, 30 April 2012
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EVEN 5000 years ago, Britons were an understated bunch. About 250 years before work began on Egypt's ostentatious Great Pyramid of Giza, the early settlers of Orkney, off the north coast of Scotland, were building impressive stone chambers of their own - and burying them under mounds of dirt. Now, intensive laser scanning makes it possible to virtually peel away the mud, revealing one of those chambers in all its glory.

This is Maeshowe, a 3.8-metre-tall tomb chamber reached via a narrow passage 11 metres long. Maeshowe is one of several Neolithic monuments that comprise the Orkney UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was scanned by a team from the Glasgow School of Art's Digital Design Studio and the government agency Historic Scotland. The team is scanning 10 World Heritage Sites, five of which are in Scotland, for the Scottish Ten project. "We scanned Mount Rushmore [National Memorial] in the US in 2010," says Lyn Wilson of Historic Scotland.

All the sites are tourist attractions, which can make conserving them a challenge. The scans, accurate to within 6 millimetres, will form an invaluable record to monitor future wear and tear.
Not all damage made by visitors is unwelcome, though. A thousand years ago, Orkney was under Norwegian rule and Maeshowe was plundered. The robbers left behind the largest collection of runes known outside Scandinavia, carved into the stone. These, too, have been laser-scanned in sub-millimetre detail. That's pretty impressive for 1000-year-old graffiti

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2012/04/ancient-burial-chamber-reveale.html
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Neolithic Orkney sites scanned in 3D by coldrum on Wednesday, 25 August 2010
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Neolithic Orkney sites scanned in 3D

Laser scanners are being deployed in Orkney to record details of some of the island's key historical landmarks.

A team from Glasgow School of Art and Historic Scotland will scan the chambered tomb of Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae settlement.

The two-week project is part of a plan to build up three-dimensional images of 10 World Heritage sites.

Among the sites already scanned are New Lanark's 18th Century mills and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.


'Comparing data'

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney is made up of the tomb of Maeshowe, the Stones of Stenness, the Barnhouse Stone, the Watch Stone, the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae.

The recording process will involve a laser being fired millions of times a second at each of the monuments.

The end result will be a precise record of the sites, accurate down to just millimetres.

The data will be used to assess the physical condition of the structures and provide a foundation for future conservation, site management and aid archaeological understanding.

Project leader Dr Lyn Wilson said: "Though we have already scanned New Lanark, the scale and nature of the monuments will be an entirely different challenge.

"This will be the first site in the Scottish Ten project where we have existing scan data: comparing data acquired at different dates will allow us to measure any changes in condition of the monuments."

Sites including the Antonine Wall, St Kilda, and the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh will also be scanned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-10990965
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Re: Maes Howe by howar on Wednesday, 04 August 2010
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Having noticed photographically that a line from the Barnhouse Stone through Maeshowe passes on to the Setter tumuli below Sordon (NMRS record no.HY31NW 14 at HY34581544 & 34631543, to whit two Bronze Age burial mounds) I wondered about the relative position of the Kethesgeo stone (HY31SW 41 at HY30351136). Pencilling in the position of the stake showing its former position onto a 1:25,000 map a line passes from it through Maeshowe to the Setter barrows, though missing out the Barnhouse Stone rather. Makes a useful backstop up on the Clouston hillside.
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Re: Maes Howe by coldrum on Sunday, 04 April 2010
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Street View


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Re: Maes Howe by Anonymous on Monday, 23 March 2009
An astonishing site. The over all layout is reminescent of New Grange in Ireland.
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New for 2008, twilight tours of Maeshowe by Andy B on Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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New for 2008, Historic Scotland is introducing special twilight tours at one of the finest Neolithic sites in Europe. From 1 June to 31 August tours will be available every day at 18.00, 19.00 and 20.00 taking in the beauty, tranquillity and mystery at Maeshowe Chambered Cairn.

A prominent feature on the landscape the Neolithic tomb of Maeshowe is older than the pyramids, and the great cairn, with its elaborate stone passageway and chambers, is the finest in north-west Europe. At the evening tours, visitors can experience the magical changes of light and the stillness of nightfall in the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Alan Jones, Monument Manager at Maeshowe, said:

“Our daytime tours at Maeshowe are very popular, and we were keen to offer visitors something a little bit different this year. On these tours visitors can admire the remarkable skills taken to create such a sophisticated monument with simple tools and see the incredible collection of runic inscriptions and engravings, all by twilight. It promises to be a very atmospheric experience.”

All tours must be pre-paid and booked in advance by calling 01856 761 606 or in person at Tormiston Mill, Maeshowe’s visitor centre. Tours are adults £5.20, children £2.60 and concessions £4.20.

Visitors are advised that they should arrive 15 minutes before their tour. Each tour lasts around 20 minutes.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn is 9 miles west of Kirkwall on the A965. The postcode is KW15 1BL. Tel: 01856 761 606.

Entry to Maeshowe is by pre-booked, guided tour only:

* Summer: 1 April to 30 September, every hour from 10.00 to 16.00
* Winter: 1 October to 31 March, every hour from 10.00 to 15.00
* Twilight Tours: June to August, 18.00, 19.00 and 20.00 – these must be pre-paid and booked in advance.

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=18582
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Re: Maes Howe by AngieLake on Thursday, 08 November 2007
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I don't recall hearing the guide say this in 2001, but read today that:
"Quite the most impressive feature of the tomb is the fact that the side walls, roof and floor of the passageway consist of four single slabs, each approximately twenty feet long. The transport and erection of such stones would cause problems for the heaviest modern engineering equipment."
(Quote from: 'Circles & Standing Stones' by Evan Hadingham, 1978 edition, charity shop bargain!)
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Maes Howe by coldrum on Tuesday, 19 June 2007
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Historic Scotland link:

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/properties_sites_detail.htm?propertyID=PL_205
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Maes Howe & environs on YouTube by TimPrevett on Monday, 12 March 2007
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One of several pieces on Maes Howe on YouTube
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Re: Recent floods highlight theory of Maeshowe's ditch by Anonymous on Sunday, 04 February 2007
I have had a theory for this arrangement (ditch for water retention around some of our remaining stone structures) for some time. It was inspired after seeing Silbury Hill in Full Moonlight after heavy rain. The images in the water were supernatural. And again viewing it from West Kennet Long Barrow and sundown.

I also though this of Maes Howe. Thank you.
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Recent floods highlight theory of Maeshowe's ditch by Andy B on Tuesday, 21 November 2006
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A theory that the ditch surrounding Maeshowe was designed to be filled with water has come to the fore, following last month’s floods in Orkney.

Dr Colin Richards suggested in the 1990s that 5,000 years ago, the ditch was filled with water, cutting off the cairn from the surrounding landscape. This, he said, formed an invisible barrier, isolating the world of the living from that of the dead.

More, with flood photo at Orkneyjar
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Re: Maes Howe by Larry on Friday, 05 October 2001
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It's Maes Howe. What can you say. Unbelieveable construction. You enter stooped, through a low passage, and you're inside a 5000 years old tomb.

I remember reading about it when I was a kid - I remember the Viking rune graffiti. A tour guide will take you into the tomb and show you the runes and describe the history of the tomb. I can't imagine why you, reader, haven't been there already!
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    Re: Maes Howe by Gwydion on Sunday, 15 September 2002
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    I visited Maes Howe this summer after I read that it was probably not a tomb but was fashioned after the uterus. Priests would conduct fertility and funerial rites as the light from the Moon or Venus penetrated a gap in the door and darted along the long, low, thin entrance to the goings-on in the main chamber. I listened with much interest as the guide explained that the ancient stone masons were able to fit the massive blocks together with such astonishing accuracy that you could hardly fit a dry 20 pound note in the cracks. However the stone door had a gap at the top - could this be the gap that allowed a light shaft to form? A spooky place!
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