Stromness, South End, Firth's Park
Cist (Prehistoric), Textile (Prehistoric)
Site Name Stromness, South End, Firth's Park
Classification Cist (Prehistoric), Textile (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Redroof
Canmore ID 371446
Site Number HY20NE 339
NGR HY 25197 08458
NGR Description HY c. 25197 08458
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/371446
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Stromness
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
Note (13 June 2022)
On Tuesday 25th April 1911 workmen undertaking groundworks for the construction of a house, now known as Redroof, in Firth’s Park, South End, Stromness, discovered a cist beneath the north boundary wall of the plot. James Walls Cursiter F.S.A. Scot. attended the discovery and recorded that the cist contained a skeleton, probably of a female, in a crouched position lying on its right hand side with the head to the north.
The skeleton was covered in a plant fibre textile, fragments of which were donated by Curister to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (now National Museums Scotland) and accessioned as X.EQ 593. The head was described as being covered by a different material resembling ‘bark or thin wood’. No artefacts were present to assist with dating, but cist and method of the burial is characteristic of the Bronze Age.
Information to HES from Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark, National Museums Scotland, 13 June 2022
