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South Ronaldsay, Little Howe Of Hoxa
Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Site Name South Ronaldsay, Little Howe Of Hoxa
Classification Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Uppertown; Howe Farm
Canmore ID 9623
Site Number ND49SW 2
NGR ND 42436 94026
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/9623
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish South Ronaldsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
ND49SW 2 42436 94026
(ND 4243 9403) Little Howe (NR)
OS 6" map (1900)
The Orcadian and The Orkney Herald newspapers describe the excavation of this site in June 1871.
(Undated) information in NMRS.
An almost shapeless heap of stones covering an area c.100ft square and 5ft high with only some isolated fragments of masonry rising a little from the overgrown hollowed interior.
It was excavated by Petrie and his plan shows a central chamber, of irregular form, 20ft in diameter, surrounded by a circular wall 13ft wide increasing to c.21ft on either side of the entrance passage in the S. This passage is intersected by a narrow intra-mural gallery which runs entirely round the building, another passage connecting it with the inner court on the N. The passages and the gallery had been lintelled. Traces of an avenue of stones leading from "Little Howe" to the broch (ND49SW 1) can still be seen. Fragments of "dark pottery", a saddle-quern and several whale vertebrae, scorched by fire, were found. Thought to be an immediate pre-broch or broch period homestead (F T Wainwright 1962).
RCAHMS 1946, visited 1929
"Little Howe" is a turf-covered hollowed circular mound measuring about 19.0m in overall diameter and about 1.5m high, with sufficient details evident to show that Petrie's plan and description are basically correct.
A ruined modern wall running N-S across the mound, has obscured much of the interior, but a short stretch of the inner face (0.3m high) is visible in the NW arc. The course of the gallery is visible as a slight trench and at one point in the NNW access to it can be gained and it is clear for about 5.0m to the W before being blocked by rubble. The "avenue of stones" is one of several turf- covered linear stone clearance heaps which run up the NW slope of the ridge on which the broch (ND49SW 1) is built.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (ISS) 27 April 1973
ND 424 940 Little Howe: circular structure, disturbed, ?prehistoric settlement.
Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Orkney Archaeological Trust
G Wilson and H Moore 1997.
Antiquarian Observation (1870)
Four drawings by George Petrie of sites in Orkney in sketchbook no. 6 (MS 28/487/8) in the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Collection.
Field Visit (August 1997)
The grass-covered remains of a settlement extends over an area 28m by 18m, 15m from a shingle beach, to the rear of a ruinous house (see SR11). It was excavated by Petrie, although it would appear that this work was a partial, rather than full, examination of the remains. His plan shows a central chamber, 20' in diameter, surrounded by a curvilinear wall. There was an entrance passage to the S. An 'intra-mural' gallery extended behind the wall, on the interior. The passage and galleries were roofed with lintels. A saddle quern and fragments of 'dark pottery' were found and the site has been attributed to the immediate pre-broch or broch period (Wainwright, 1962).
Today, the central structure is defined by wide turf-covered banks framing a dished, sub-circular interior, 13m in diameter. The banks stand up to 3m high. The interior surface is uneven and there are frequent loose stones strewn about. Some of the stone may derive from a very ruinous cru, or small enclosure, which has been inserted over the ruins. The remains of the 'intra-mural' gallery are visible to the NNW, where it appears to form a semi-subterranean passage. The passage is now blocked up with collapsed masonry. The entrance, which lies on the S side, is via a 3m long passage through the enclosing banks. The fabric of the structure is now prone to collapse and appears to have been disturbed in recent times by opportunistic investigations as well as animal trampling.
Moore and Wilson, 1997
Coastal Zone Assessment Survey
