Hoy, Kirk Geo
Burnt Mound (Prehistoric)(Possible), Settlement (Prehistoric)(Possible)
Site Name Hoy, Kirk Geo
Classification Burnt Mound (Prehistoric)(Possible), Settlement (Prehistoric)(Possible)
Canmore ID 8917
Site Number ND28NE 10
NGR ND 2846 8820
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/8917
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Walls And Flotta
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
Field Visit (August 1987)
Kirk Geo ND 2846 8820 ND28NE 10
In a right angle of the deeply-cut stream draining to Kirk Geo is a mound, prominent only on its W and N sides, with a suggestion of revetting stones on the W; otherwise its extent is indefinable. On the S margin are several earthfast erect slabs one of which is aligned WNW-ESE, measures 1.1 m long and 0.15m thick, and stands 0.4m high. The whole is suggestive of a prehistoric settlement.
RCAHMS 1989, visited August 1987.
(OR 1931).
Field Visit (August 1997)
This site, previously recorded as a putative settlement site (RCAHMS 1989, #16) is now reinterpreted as a burnt mound. An oval mound is conical in profile and has a flat top. It is situated in rough grass 25m from the cliff edge. It measures 7m by 8m and is 2.75m high. Up to 40% of the mound is denuded of vegetation and deposits of burnt soil and burnt angular stones can be seen in the exposures. The average size of the burnt stone fragments is 15cm by 10cm by 5cm and they are derived from beach deposits. A large, unburnt, edge-set slab which protrudes from the W end of the mound may be structural, possibly part of a tank. A watercourse, which has been re-channelled in recent times, lies to the N of the mound.
Moore and Wilson, 1997
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey
Aerial Photography
Four rectangular structures can be seen on orthorectified air photography (PGA_ND2888_2008-05-09.jpg). The structures are orientated SE-NW and range between 20 to 30 m in length and eight to 10 m in width.
Information from RCAHMS (MikeM) 13 January 2012.
