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Hill Of Heddle
Barrow(S) (Prehistoric)
Site Name Hill Of Heddle
Classification Barrow(S) (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Paerkeith
Canmore ID 2063
Site Number HY31SE 13
NGR HY 359 131
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2063
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Firth
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY31SE 13 359 131.
There is a partly turf-covered mound, 20ft in diameter and 2 1/2ft in height, on the NE shoulder of the Hill of Heddle, nearly half a mile south of Finstown pier and 40 or 50yds east of the road. It seems to be mainly of earth although a few stones protrude through the surface. A cavity, 2ft 3 ins by 1ft 9 ins, in the top suggests that a cist may have been removed.
About 200yds further south are two other grass-grown mounds lying close together. They are 19 ft and 24ft in diameter and both about 3 ft high. They have evidently been opened, and on top of the more southerly one is a large cavity which may have contained a cist.
These three mounds are known as "Paerkeith".(A Wood 1927).
Fully 300ft higher up, and about a quarter-mile east of a modern cairn there is a low mound, about 25ft in diameter, whose outline is vague. It is hollowed in the centre, as if by excavation.
RCAHMS 1946. Visited August 1928.
Only three mounds were located on the NE slopes of the Hill of Heddle at about 200ft OD.
Mound A, at HY 3586 1329, and mound B, at HY 3596 1317, are as described by the Commission.
Mound C, at HY 3592 1314, measuring 10.0m in diameter and 1.0m in height, contains a large depression 5.8m long and 3.0m wide.
Mound D was not found, and has probably been destroyed by quarry operations.
These are almost certainly barrows: the name "Paerkeith" is not known locally.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS(NKB) 29 April 1966.
Tumuli 'invisible'
OS 9 November 1985.
Field Visit (29 April 1966)
Only three mounds were located on the NE slopes of the Hill of Heddle at about 200ft OD.
Mound A, at HY 3586 1329, and mound B, at HY 3596 1317, are as described by the Commission.
Mound C, at HY 3592 1314, measuring 10.0m in diameter and 1.0m in height, contains a large depression 5.8m long and 3.0m wide.
Mound D was not found, and has probably been destroyed by quarry operations.
These are almost certainly barrows: the name "Paerkeith" is not known locally.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS(NKB) 29 April 1966.
Field Visit (April 1968)
Fully 300ft higher up (from mounds OR 571-2) and 0.25 mile
E of modern cairn is a low mound 25ft diameter, of indefinite
outline, hollowed in centre as if dug into. [R1]
Probably destroyed by quarrying.
OS visit Apr 68.
Orkney Smr Note (July 1980)
Almost certainly was in area taken by quarry extension.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Jul 80.
Field Visit (11 September 1993)
These mounds were recorded during the course of the Orkney Barrows Project.
Paerkeith 1: HY 3586 1329. Diameter 5.6m by 5.m. Height 1.0m. Visible from sea 70m to NE.
Paerkeith 2: HY 3596 1317. Diameter 7.3m. Height 0.9m.
Paerkeith 3: HY 3592 1314. Diameter 10m. Height 1.0m.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1993
Orkney Smr Note
Has just escaped damage by house-building to N of it, any further
housing development would destroy mound.
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Three of these mounds on the E slope of the Heddle Hill were dug into revealing so far as is known a stone cist in each case. These three mounds are known as Paerkieth. [R1]
On shoulder of Hill of Heddle, 40-50yds east of the road to Torriedale, a mound 20ft diameter, 2ft 6in high, turfed, apparently consisting mostly of earth with a few protruding stones. Dug into on top where a cavity extending E-W, 2ft 3in x 21in, suggests a cist has been removed. [R2]
As described. OS visit Apr 68.
As described, but cist-shaped cavity no longer obvious.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Jul 80.
