Eday, Eday Church
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name Eday, Eday Church
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Canmore ID 3210
Site Number HY53SE 5
NGR HY 5604 3344
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3210
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Eday
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY53SE 5 5604 3344.
(HY 5604 3344) Erd House (NR)
OS 6" map, orkney, 2nd ed.,(1900).
An Orkney-Cromarty type short-horned chambered cairn now covered with heather and turf. The south half is little disturbed and the edges are fairly definite but the other side is obscured by the remains of a secondary wall and other disturbances. The general height is about 4' and the body of the cairn seems to have had a diameter of about 50'.
Low horns project obliquely to the SW, SE and NE. The SE horn is most conspicuous, rising about 1' above the general level of the moor and at least 23' long. The other two horns can be traced by a difference in the growth of the heather rather than by the contour, so their edges are very indefinite; the SW horn seems to be about 23' long, but the NE horn though presumably similar can now be traced only as a short stump.
The NW corner, where the fourth horn would be expected is too disturbed for it to be traced with confidence.
In the centre of the cairn are exposed the upper portions of six upright stones, parts of a stalled chamber.
RCAHMS 1946; A S Henshall 1963.
A chambered cairn as described and planned by Henshall.
Surveyed at 1/2500
Visited by OS (RL) 24 July 1970.
The name is no longer a helpful indication of the position of this cairn. It is a short-horned cairn; three of the four horns are traceable, the SE being 1m high and 23m long. The stalled chamber is exposed in a deep excavation at the centre of the cairn. The chamber was at least 4.5m long.
RCAHMS 1984, visited October 1981.
Orkney Smr Note (October 1981)
Circular mound, 55ft diameter, 3ft 6in-4ft high, centre
deeply dug into exposing remnant of stalled chamber, 5 heavy
stones remain standing some 3ft above surface. Four of these
represent stall-divisions, but of these only two stand opposite
each other, the fifth stone is the only portion of the lateral
wall still visible. Chamber was at least 15ft long and lies E by
S - W by N. Mound is covered by peat and heather. [R1]
Orkney-Cromarty short horned cairn. S half little disturbed
and edges fairly definite but their site covered by remains of
secondary wall and other disturbances. Low horns project SW, SE
and NE. The SE is most conspicious, about 1m high, 23m long,
other two traceable with difficulty in heather. NW corner is too
disturbed to show horn. In centre of mound are 6 erect stones,
representing chamber. [R2]
As described, unaltered since Henshall's visit.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Oct 81.
