1017090 |
DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS |
PUBLICATION ACCOUNT |
These two houses, known respectively as the 'Benie Hoose' and the 'Standing Stones of Yoxie', have been excavated and left open, and they are clear and well-preserved examples of ea rly houses (the huge rectangular pile of stones close to the 'Benie Hoose' represents the debris removed from the house and from a superimposed planticrue by the excavators). Both houses are aligned downslope with their entrances facing east and seawards, probably to help drainage, and the builders of the 'Beenie Hoose' had to cut back into the hillside to achieve a level platform. The lIse of massive boulders in the thick walls led to the local name 'Standing Stones of Yoxie' for the lower house, because before excavation the tips of these sometimes pointed boulders protruded well above the turf. Both structures consist of a dwelling house with one or two rooms and alcoves, and a long entrance passage leading out into an oval and probably unroofed courtyard, which is large enough to have been used as a small animal pen. [...] |
1997 |
1017104 |
DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS |
PUBLICATION ACCOUNT |
The bare rock-faces on the east side of this knoll display two well-preserved groups of pecked cupmarks, about thirty in all, but they lack the elaboration of rings and other markings found elsewhere in Scotland. The lower group includes three joined in a trefoil shape. [...] |
1997 |
1017141 |
DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS |
PUBLICATION ACCOUNT |
This is a very impressive square cairn, 10m across and edged with large boulders. Taller pillar stones stand at the corners, and a large recumbent stone lies across the entrance to the tomb. The cairn has been excavated, and the amount of stones cleared off the cairn gives some idea of its original height. A short passage leads into a cruciform chamber, the east side of which is still visible. In both the passage and the chamber, a layer of small stones had been laid down as a base for a paved floor at almost the height of the recumbent stone across the entrance. Before the excavation the passage and chamber were filled with earth and stones, possibly the original filling placed there when the tomb went out of use. Two tiny sherds of pottery, two small stone discs and a quartz tool were found amongst the filling, but there was no trace of any burials. [...] |
1997 |