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Swona, The Tarf
Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned), Sheepfold(S) (Post Medieval), Skeo(S) (Post Medieval)
Site Name Swona, The Tarf
Classification Cairn(S) (Period Unassigned), Sheepfold(S) (Post Medieval), Skeo(S) (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 182520
Site Number ND38SE 11
NGR ND 3835 8371
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/182520
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish South Ronaldsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND38SE 11 3835 8371
Annotated 'Sheepfolds', five enclosures and four unroofed structures, two of which may be buildings are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Orkney and Shetland (Orkney) 1882, sheet cxxv). Three enclosures and one unroofed building are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1982).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 20 November 2000.
'The Orcadian' in 1903 mentions a number of sheepfolds, dykes and other structures at this location. Open-ended huts with round enclosures (known as 'crevices', which were used for growing crops) and long narrow structures ('skios') for drying fish were also present. One structure was said to measure 14' x 3' and the largest was 72' x 3'.
M Howe 2006
Field Visit (22 August 2014)
This group of four sheepfolds, at least two skeos and at least two cairns is spread out over an area that measures about 120m from E to W by 30m transversely.
Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, AM) 22 August 2014.
