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Rousay, Ward Hill
Cairn(S) (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric)
Site Name Rousay, Ward Hill
Classification Cairn(S) (Prehistoric), Cist (Prehistoric)
Canmore ID 2173
Site Number HY32NE 22
NGR HY 3832 3002
NGR Description HY 3832 3002 and HY 3832 2995
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/2173
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Rousay And Egilsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY32NE 22 383 299.
(Area : HY 383 299) A group of three mounds, at least one of which contains a cist, lies on the summit of Ward Hill.
One of the mounds was excavated by W.G.Grant in about 1936. It measured 26 ft in diameter and 1 ft high, and contained a central cist, formed of slabs set on edge, with a slab floor, measuring approximately 3 ft 3 ins square by 2 ft deep. The sides have been levelled up with small slabs. The cover-stone had been removed by previous excavators.
RCAHMS 1946.
Of the three mounds described by the Commission, two are cairns and the third is a natural build-up of peat forming a circular bowl-shaped mound.
The northern mound, at HY 3832 3002, measuring 14.0m. in diameter and 0.8m. in height, is greatly mutilated so that only the outline is discernible. A fairly modern dry-built structure has been built in the centre.
The other cairn, containing the cist, as described by the Commission, at HY 3832 2995, is about 6.0 m. in diameter and 0.2m. high, it is destroyed on the SW side by the erosion of the cliff edge on which it stands.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (NKB) 11 June 1967.
Field Visit (September 1979)
As described OS.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Sep 79.
Field Visit (September 1979)
Ward Hill HY 3832 3002 & 3832 2995 HY32NE 22
Two mounds, one of which was excavated by Grant in about 1936 and was found to contain a central cist. A third mound is probably natural.
RCAHMS 1982, visited September 1979
(Grant 1937, 82; Wilson Portfolio f. 9; RCAHMS 1946, ii, p. 221, No. 582; OR 558)
Field Visit (27 April 1994)
The northern mound (HY 38320 30020) was described by the OS as mutilated with a mordern structure inside, but appears to be a mound which has been excavated with just the outer remnants of the mound surrounding what looks like a ring cairn/dry stone walled cist inside. The cairn is 7.0m in diameter and 0.8m in height.
A second cairn is at HY 38320 29950. It measures 6.0m in diameter and 0.2m in height.
Both cairns are in prominent locations, visible for up to 2km to the W and E.
Information from the Orkney Barrows Project (JD), 1994
