Reeky Knowes
Mound(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Reeky Knowes
Classification Mound(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 2168
Site Number HY32NE 18
NGR HY 3874 2652
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2168
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Evie And Rendall
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY32NE 18 3874 2652.
(HY 3874 2652) Reeky Knowes (NR)
OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1900).
Four mounds, varying in diameter from 12 ft to 43 ft and in height from '.. a few inches..' to 3 ft 6 ins. In recent times they have been used for signal fires to summon a boat, hence the name.
RCAHMS 1946.
Reeky Knowes, six mounds of earth with an admixture of small stones, are grouped at HY 3876 2652, close to the cliff edge at the base of a gentle east slope. The four mounds described by the Commission are unchanged, except that one ('A'- HY 3872 2654) has been mutilated by ploughing on its west side.
The other two ('E' - HY 3872 2651 and 'F' - HY 3873 2650), 7.0 m. and 9.0 m. in diameter respectively, have had the whole of their centres removed, leaving a low circular bank, 0.1 to 0.2 m. high.
These mounds are generally bowl-shaped and roughly circular and may therefore be barrows, although no finds have been reported.
Their name, and their use as signal stances, are still known locally.
Revised at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 9 June 1967.
Field Visit (11 September 1993)
The bowl-shaped mounds at Reeky Knowes were visited during the course of the Orkney Barrows Project.
Reeky Knowes 1:38720 26540. Diameter 14.0m. Height 1.25m
Reeky Knowes 2:38760 26520. Measures 6.0m by 7.0m. Height 0.3m.
Reeky Knowes 3:38760 26520. Diameter 5.0m. Height 0.4m.
Reeky Knowes 4:38760 26520. Diameter 5.0m. Height 0.4m.
Reeky Knowes 5:38720 26510. Diameter 5.0m. Height 0.2m.
Reeky Knowes 6:38730 26500. Could not be recorded.
Poor visibility was recorded on the day of visit, but it was noted that it may have been possible to see the mounds from Vastry Headland, 1.5km SE. Some damage was noted to these scheduled monuments.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1993
