UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO Heritage
United Kingdom

Midhowe Chambered Cairn

Neolithic chambered tomb, Orkney (United Kingdom)

Location

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Historical Context

About

Midhowe Chambered Cairn is a large Neolithic chambered cairn located on the south shore of the island of Rousay, Orkney, Scotland. The name "Midhowe" comes from the Iron Age broch known as Midhowe Broch, that lies just west of the tomb. The broch got its name from the fact that it is the middle of three such structures that lie grouped within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of each other and Howe from the Old Norse word haugr meaning mound or barrow. Together, the broch and chambered cairn form part of a large complex of ancient structures on the shore of Eynhallow Sound separating Rousay from Mainland, Orkney.

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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Beginning of use

early in the third millennium BC

Unstan ware first identified

1884

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Defensive Structures

Towers
category

Burial and Funerary Structures

TombsGraves
category

Religious and Ritual Structures

Ceremonial Platforms
category

Artistic and Decorative Features

ReliefsMonuments
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
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Reference

Details

Country

United Kingdom

Coordinates

59.16° N, -3.10° E