Eday, Sandyhill Smithy
Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Site Name Eday, Sandyhill Smithy
Classification Chambered Cairn (Neolithic)
Alternative Name(s) Sandhill
Canmore ID 3211
Site Number HY53SE 6
NGR HY 5612 3299
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3211
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Eday
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY53SE 6 5612 3299.
(HY 560 329) An Orkney-Cromarty type round cairn with a tripartite chamber, excavated in 1937 by Calder. It has been much disturbed and now appears as a low heather-covered mound 2' high from which protrude three upright slabs.
The cairn was circular with a diameter of 26' 6" and surrounded by a wall-face which survived only to a height of 1' 2". An inner wall-face was indicated by a vertical joint in the passage walls 3' 6" from the entrance.
Within the chamber was evidence of secondary use in the form of what was interpreted as being an occupation floor.
Finds from the excavation were donated to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) by Major H H Hebden, Carrick House, Eday in 1938. (Finds in NMAS EO 741-2).
A S Henshall 1963; C S T Calder 1938; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1939 (Donations); RCAHMS 1946.
A chambered cairn at HY 5612 3299 as described by Henshall.
Surveyed at 1/2500
Visited by OS(RL) 24 July 1970.
The tripartite round cairn 'near Sandyhill Smithy' (a landmark now entirely forgotton) was excavated in 1937 by Calder. It now appears as a low, mutilated mound, from the hollowed centre of which protrude two upright slabs; other stones are probably not in situ.
Visited October 1981.
RCAHMS 1984.
RMS EO 621.
K Jessen and H Helbaek 1944.
Field Visit (October 1981)
Now a low, mutilated mound from the hollowed centre of which
protrude tops of 2 stall-slabs. Other big projecting stones are
probably not in situ.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Oct 81.
