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Wasbuster, Skae Frue
Barrow (Prehistoric)
Site Name Wasbuster, Skae Frue
Classification Barrow (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Buckan
Canmore ID 1755
Site Number HY21SE 8
NGR HY 2824 1440
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/1755
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Sandwick
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY21SE 8 2824 1440.
(HY 2824 1440) Skae Frue (NR)
OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1903).
This large mound, approximately 75ft diameter by 10ft high, seems to be mainly natural but has served as a site for some indeterminate structure now indicated only by a number of stones et irregularly on edge at various angles.
It has been dug into, and the centre left hollow, and is probably the tumulus excavated by Thomas (F W L Thomas 1852), who found three burials 'in a bent posture', apparently two adults and a child, with a probable fourth burial, 'placed at the cardinal points of the compass' or 'in a circle' without associated relics.
RCAHMS 1946.
Skae Frue would appear to be artificial, and contains a number of stones on its surface, as described above.
The mound, in the SE corner of a pasture field, measures 23.5m in diameter and 2.4m in maximum height. It is flat-topped and contains many small stones in its bare north slopes. There are no traces of any cists.
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (RB) 27 April 1966.
The 'John O'Groat Journal' in 1849 mentions the discovery of a cist with a skeleton, which was excavated in July of that year.
M Howe 2006
Field Visit (13 October 1993)
During the course of a field visit as part of the Orkney Barrows Project it was noted that this is an impressive mound, despite having sustained some damage. Its context is within the Brodgar penninsula and near other mound groups.
A mound with a ditch, it measures 23.2m by 25.2m and 2.15m in height. The ditch is 10.0m wide. It is visible to the N and to the Loch to W, but only for c.50m to the E.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1993
