United Kingdom

Knowes of Trotty

Bronze Age burial mounds, Mainland (Orkney), UK

Location

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Historical Context

About

The Knowes of Trotty is a Bronze Age cemetery located in Mainland, Orkney in Scotland. The ancient site consists of a group of twelve surviving burial mounds (or barrows), dating to 2030–1770 BC. Along with cremated human remains, four gold discs and a number of amber beads and pendants were discovered in the largest mound in 1858. Knowes of Trotty is one of the earliest group of burial mounds in Orkney and one of the largest Bronze Age cemeteries in the United Kingdom.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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First recorded opening of a mound

1858

Sale of artefacts to museum

1859

Modern excavation

2002–2005

Geophysical and topographical survey

2005–2006

Bronze Age burials (radiocarbon date)

c. 2030–1770 BC

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Burial and Funerary Structures

Burial MoundsBarrowsCistsCairnsCemeteries
category

Industrial and Craft Structures

Kilns
category

Religious and Ritual Structures

Stelae
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Houses
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
Knowledge Base

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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

59.04° N, -3.15° E