Sand Fiold
Cist (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Cremation(S) (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Inhumation(S) (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Pit (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Cinerary Urn (Bronze Age)
Site Name Sand Fiold
Classification Cist (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Cremation(S) (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Inhumation(S) (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Pit (Neolithic) - (Bronze Age), Cinerary Urn (Bronze Age)
Alternative Name(s) Skaill; Netherstone
Canmore ID 1689
Site Number HY21NW 35
NGR HY 2422 1955
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/1689
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Sandwick
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY21NW 35 242 195.
The site was discovered during sand quarrying. It consisted of a rock cut pit, 3.2m by 3.4m by 2m deep, forming a chamber against the west wall of which a free-standing stone cist, 1.6m by 1m by 1m high, was inserted. A single capstone covered the cist. A drystone wall was built against the wall opposite the cist and the space between the two roofed with capstones.
The cist contained both inhumations and cremations, one of the latter being placed in an urn. It was clear that the burials did not represent a single deposition, but that the cist had been reused at least once.
In addition to skeletal remains from the burials, the cist contained the remains of organic fibrous material, of vegetable origin. A slate pot lid was found immediately outside the N end of the cist.
Cremated human bone, along with a large deposit of vitrified material, was found in a narrow space between the west side of the cist and the chamber wall. The vitreous matter may represent funeral-pyre material. Sponsor: SDD HBM-AOC.
M Dalland 1989d.
Orkney Smr Note (1989)
Discovered during quarrying the capstones of the cist collapsed under the weight of a lorry, revealing a rock-cut pit forming a large chamber, at the W end of which a free-standing stone cist had been inserted. The pit was narrowed and a passage created along its eastside.
The cist contained both inhumed and cremated burials; one of the latter being placed in an urn. Stratified evidence suggests that the cist had been opened at least once. Also contained the remains of organic fibrous material of vegetable origin.
Full account held in OR detailed records.
M. Dalland 'A Rock-cut Tomb at Sandfiold, Orkney' in A.O.C. Annual Report, 1989, pp4-6
Information from Orkney SMR 1989
Note (2020)
Sand Fiold
This burial site in Orkney Islands was a focus for funerary practices in the Neolithic/Bronze Age period, between 2900 BC and 801 BC.
Prehistoric Grave Goods project site ID: 60173
CANMORE ID: 1689
Total no. graves with grave goods: 1
Total no. people with grave goods: 3
Total no. grave goods: 5
Prehistoric Grave Goods project Grave ID: 60063
Grave type: Cist
Burial type(s): Cremation, Inhumation, Cremation
Grave good: Pot
Materials used: Pottery
Current museum location: Unknown
Grave good: Floral Offering
Materials used: Organic (Uncertain/Unspecified)
Current museum location: Unknown
Grave good: Basket
Materials used: Textile
Current museum location: Unknown
Grave good: Wrap
Materials used: Textile
Current museum location: Unknown
Grave good: Lid
Materials used: Slate
Current museum location: Unknown
Further details, the full project database and downloads of project publications can be found here: https://doi.org/10.5284/1052206
An accessible visualisation of the database can be found here: http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/grave-goods/map/
