Eynhallow

HY 36041 29076 A desk-based assessment and walkover survey of the island of Eynhallow was undertaken in April 2007. A total of 65 sites were recorded, ranging from post-medieval buildings to prehistoric structures. Of particular interest was the identification of a previously unrecorded burnt mound in the N of the island, several possible prehistoric burial mounds and a well preserved sequence of field dykes. Although further work is required to understand these boundaries, initial assessment suggests there is clear phasing and chronological depth to these features which may include potential prehistoric land divisions.

Report to be deposited with the Orkney SMR and RCAHMS.

Funder: Hunter Archaeological Trust, Viking Society for Northern Research, Orkney Archaeological Trust, Orkney College Geophysics Unit.

This group of three drystone enclosures is situated in rough pasture immediately above the shoreline on the E coast of the island. Arranged from N to S, the most southerly measures internally about 23m from NNW to SSE by 7m transversely, the centre one measures about 17m from N to S by 6m transversely, while the most northerly measures about 25m from NNW to SSE by 21m transversely at its widest point. A section of walling at the NE corner of the central enclosure possibly incorporates an earlier two-room building which is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 25-inch map (Orkney Sheet LXXXIX.7, 1882); while the northern enclosure has clearly been robbed of stone for the construction of another building with wing-walls to immediately to its NE [at HY36519 29204].

Visited by RCAHMS (GFG) 13 August 2015

Moore and Thomas 2008, Site 6 (a-d)