Howe Harper
Cairn (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Howe Harper
Classification Cairn (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 2157
Site Number HY31SW 9
NGR HY 3456 1437
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2157
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Firth
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY31SW 9 3456 1437.
(HY 3455 1437) Howe Harper (NR)
OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1903).
'Howe Harper' is a mound of small stones and earth, with an overall diameter of 63 to 65 ft and a height of at least 8 ft, formed from the upcast from a surrounding ditch up to 2 1/2 ft in depth. The mound is turf-covered and shows traces of excavation on the top: nothing is known of any discoveries.
Name Book 1880; RCAHMS 1946.
"Howe Harper", a cairn generally as described and illustrated by the RCAHMS, is situated in a prominent position on the lower slopes of Snaba Hill at about 250 ft OD. The surrounding ditch is reduced to a berm on the lower, west, side so that the cairn appears to rest on a platform in the side of the hill similar to Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn (HY41SW 1). It is possibly a chambered cairn, being similar in size, profile and topographical position to Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn (HY31SE 1).
Resurveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 9 May 1966.
Orkney Smr Note (July 1980)
Has been dug into; probably a Norse grave mound. [R1]
Large mound 63-65ft diameter, 8ft high, conspicuous.
Surrounded by ditch 2ft 6in deep where land rises, shallower on
the downslope side. Has been dug into on the top towards the S
and W. [R2]
Generally as described, sited on prominent position on lower
slopes of Snaba Hill. Surrounding ditch is reduced to a berm on
the lower, W side so that the cairn appears to rest on a platform
similar to Wideford. The mound's similarity in size, shape and
siting to Cuween suggest it may be a chambered cairn.
OS visit May 66.
As described; a rabbit-scrape on the N side shows only
earth.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Jul 80.
Field Visit (10 September 1993)
This mound is large and probably EBA, it is typically sited on the lower slopes of the hill and is visible through its size rather than prominent siting. The mounds above it [HY31SW 16] are prominent on the skyline and these draw the eye to the group.
The mound measures 13m in diameter and 0.66m in height. The diameter of ditch is 2m and bank is 3m.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1993
