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Art as Metaphor: The Prehistoric Rock-art of Britain

Art as Metaphor: The Prehistoric Rock-art of Britain

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Castle Howe (Orkney) - Ancient Village or Settlement in Scotland in Orkney

Submitted by howar on Sunday, 22 August 2004  Page Views: 5383

Multi-periodSite Name: Castle Howe (Orkney)
Country: Scotland County: Orkney Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Nearest Town: Kirkwall  Nearest Village: St. Mary's
Map Ref: HY514003
Latitude: 58.887286N  Longitude: 2.844884W
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.
3 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.
1 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
3

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Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : From shore side showing excavator's protective wall and a few site stones below. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Settlement in Orkney. Though it occupies a typical broch site shows no evidence of circularity and so is classified as a promontory fort. A member of the clergy excavated a 'domestic structure' on the top from 1929-31 and then built a 1m high square wall about it afterwards.

There were two structures above one another, of which only the lower was certainly prehistoric. This lower chamber was D-shaped with a floor 2.6m below ground level (reached by steps) and walls 2m high. Its entrance and that of the modern protective wall are held in common at the west.
Crossing the coastal fields to Castle Howe there seemed to be channels and/or ruts of some type underfoot as I neared the hill. Coming up my feet encountered a multitude of lumps and bumps and I appeared to be climbing over different levels on the hill, putting me strangely in mind of Wideford Hill Cairn. Be very careful going about the summit still. Once there I found it took a while to tell the chamber wall from the outer protection of the excavator's wall. Rather disappointing. The inner area looked like a rockfall and I wasn't aware of seeing any steps at the time (the photos are clearer). Mindst you the modern wall isn't weathering well either.

RCAHMS NMRS No. HY50SW 13
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Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : Excavated chambers (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : The Castle has a fine view across the Flow (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : Area of exposed stonework sits on mound off-centre (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : Last informative view of excavated chambers (Vote or comment on this photo)

Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : Different view of excavated chambers

Castle Howe (Orkney)
Castle Howe (Orkney) submitted by howar : Seen from hillside above to show different 'platforms' at shore base etc.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 499m NW 306° St. Nicholas Church* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY510006)
 1.7km SE 132° Roseness* Chambered Cairn (ND52629917)
 1.7km SSE 149° Rose Ness* Chambered Cairn (ND5228698813)
 2.3km NW 305° Tower of Clett* Artificial Mound (HY4949701654)
 2.8km WNW 302° Mass Howe* Misc. Earthwork (HY49090181)
 2.9km WSW 238° Northfield Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (ND489988)
 2.9km NW 314° Crearhowe* Artificial Mound (HY49300235)
 3.0km W 273° Lamb Holm* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY484005)
 3.1km NE 51° The Cairn* Artificial Mound (HY53840223)
 3.4km NE 52° Stembister farm stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (HY54130239)
 3.8km NW 307° Hall of Gorn* Round Barrow(s) (HY484026)
 3.9km NW 305° Laughton's Knowe* Round Barrow(s) (HY48260258)
 4.0km NNE 19° Campston (Toab)* Broch or Nuraghe (HY528041)
 4.4km NE 48° Peerie Howe* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY54750324)
 4.5km SSW 209° St Lawrence's Church* Broch or Nuraghe (ND4917896425)
 4.5km NNE 29° St. Peter's Kirk* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY536042)
 4.5km NE 47° Dingieshowe* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY54760330)
 4.5km NNE 30° Campston Cairn* Cairn (HY537042)
 4.5km WNW 283° St Mary's Broch* Broch or Nuraghe (HY470014)
 4.6km NE 35° Comely* Cairn (HY54040403)
 4.8km NNE 28° St. Peter's Bay Mound* Broch or Nuraghe (HY537045)
 5.1km NW 306° Holm Chambered Tomb* Chambered Tomb (HY473033)
 5.1km NE 51° Sandaiken* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY55380346)
 5.6km WNW 303° Gutterpool* Misc. Earthwork (HY467034)
 5.6km N 352° Burn of Langskaill* Ancient Village or Settlement (HY507059)
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