Vetquoy
Barrow(S) (Prehistoric), Cist(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Vetquoy
Classification Barrow(S) (Prehistoric), Cist(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 1634
Site Number HY21NE 41
NGR HY 268 186
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/1634
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Sandwick
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY21NE 41 268 186.
(HY 2683 1862 : HY 2690 1864) Tumuli {NR}
(HY 2680 1854) Stone Cist found A.D.1878 {NAT}
(Name : HY 2695 1861) Stone Cists found A.D. 1869 {NAT}
O.S.6"map, Orkney, 2nd ed.,(1903).
Only one cist (a short cist containing ashes) was found in 1869, in the centre of a tumulus 'a short distance to the west of Vetquoy', excavated by Mr Farrer. (The positioning of the name on the OS 6" and the note that a cist was found in the larger of the two tumuli suggests that they may be the same cists.)
The cist found in 1878 was also short, and contained ashes.
Name Book 1880.
The Commission records a group of five mounds in the area (presumably including the published tumuli) and describes them as varying between 19 and 38 ft in diameter and from 'mere foundations' to almost 5ft in height. The two largest show signs of excavation.
RCAHMS 1946.
Four tumuli, and the remains of a fifth, as described by the Commission. The two largest are those published on the OS 6" - the others are at HY 2683 1863, 2683 1864 and 2692 1865.
No further information was found regarding the cists.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS(RL) 20 May 1967.
Field Visit (20 May 1967)
Four tumuli, and the remains of a fifth, as described by the Commission. The two largest are those published on the OS 6" - the others are at HY 2683 1863, 2683 1864 and 2692 1865.
No further information was found regarding the cists.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS(RL) 20 May 1967.
Field Visit (19 May 1993)
These mounds were visited during the course of the Orkney Barrows project.
Vetquoy 1: HY 26830 18620. Bowl-shaped. Levelled.
Vetquoy 2: HY 26900 18640. Bowl-shaped. Levelled.
Vetquoy 3: HY 28630 18630. Bowl-shaped. Levelled.
Vetquoy 4: HY 28630 18640. Bowl-shaped. Levelled.
Vetquoy 5: HY 26920 18650. Bowl-shaped. Diameter 5.0m. Height 0.1m.
The mounds are not in a prominent location. They are visible to Harray Loch, 200m to the SE.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1993
