Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

North Ronaldsay, Howar

Inhumation (Viking), Settlement (Prehistoric) - (Viking)(Possible), Pin (Bronze)(Viking)

Site Name North Ronaldsay, Howar

Classification Inhumation (Viking), Settlement (Prehistoric) - (Viking)(Possible), Pin (Bronze)(Viking)

Alternative Name(s) Stromness; Strom Ness; Bustatown; Howoar

Canmore ID 3667

Site Number HY75SE 2

NGR HY 7607 5140

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3667

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Cross And Burness
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Orkney
  • Former County Orkney

Archaeology Notes

HY75SE 2 7607 5140

A burial was found by J D Macbie, Central Schoolhouse, Sanday, in a clay-filled section in the face of the coastal cliff at Howoar, North Ronaldsay (? Howar - HY 761 518).

A skull and other objects, including a Celtic-type (penannular, pin) brooch, are now in the Stromness Museum.

Information from F T Wainwright, Mss index in possession of MoPBW (HBM).

The site of this burial was pointed out at HY 7604 5143 by Mr J Seatter, of Howar. It was found during the 2nd World War in sand blow, by Seatter, and examined by Macbie. Close to the burial site to the SW at the base of the sea wall, are two slabs protruding through the turf, 0.8m apart.

About 45.0m to the SE at HY 7607 4140, a section of curving dry-stone walling is exposed at the top of the cliff for a distance of 7.0m and a height of 0.7m. The ground around is disturbed with stones protruding through the turf indicating an early structure. A stone vessel was found hereabouts several years ago. (Information from Mr J Seatter, Howar). Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (NKB), 22 July 1970.

This bronze pin (described as Viking) and a 'whorl or ring of vitreous material' are in Stromness Museum, labelled 'found by G Seatter, Jnr, in Viking Grave, at Howar, N Ronaldsay.'

Visited by OS (AA) 25 May 1973.

Scheduled with HY75SE 19 as Strom Ness, prehistoric settlement mound and 17th century house.

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 1 March 2000.

Activities

Note (1980)

Stromness, North Ronaldsay HY 7610 5130 HY75SE 2

Enormous settlement mound at least 100m by 50m has produced finds of stone, bone and bronze, and a grave containing a penannular brooch. Midden material and walls visible. Probably a very large and important late prehistoric and Norse settlement, paralleling and continuing the occupation sequence of the adjacent Broch of Burrian (HY75SE 3). Sea erosion extremely serious.

RCAHMS 1980

(Wainwright MS 1957; OR 216)

Field Visit (1999)

An extensive settlement mound, over 60m long, abuts the coast edge and is eroding. It extends from the shore into a pasture field where it can be traced for at least 30m. It is very denuded and there are frequent exposures, some up to 2.5m deep, in which archaeological deposits can be seen. Structural remains are visible on at least two separate stratigraphic levels within the mound. Towards the base, a structure which may be a Viking/Norse period dwelling, is aligned parallel to the shore. It is estimated to measure some 20m in length; a probable internal partition bisects it. This structure is built over a highly enriched old ground surface and is covered with an accumulation of anthropogenic deposits, which include peatash, shell and bone fragments. Structural remains of a later period are exposed on the surface of the mound, which has been denuded of vegetation by sheep trampling. The eastern end of the mound comprises multiple layers of highly organic 'farm mound' deposits. It is likely that the remains here represent a Viking/Norse farmstead which was continuously occupied over a long period. Previously, a probable Viking period burial, with grave goods including a stone bowl, probable steatite or glass object and a bronze pin, was found nearby. The site is now in a highly vulnerable condition and requires immediate attention. Ref.: RCAHMS (1980), #114.

Moore & Wilson 1999.

Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, 1999

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions