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Orkney: Latest Posts |
Previous 10 | Showing 51-60 of 3,937 posts. Most recent first | Next 10 
Broch of Gurness — Images (click to view fullsize) |
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Posted by thelonious16th September 2021ce |
Broch of Gurness — Fieldnotes |
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09/09/2021 – Rainy start to the day so we had a look round Kirkwall. St Magnus cathedral is very impressive and the museum across the way is worth a visit. Lots of prehistory items from sites round Orkney. The museum in Stromness is smaller but also nice and has the The Skara Brae Buddo. Both good places for a wet day. The rain had eased by the afternoon so we took the bus out to Evie to visit Broch of Gurness. We got off the bus at Evie School and took the road signposted to the Broch. As an added bonus there’s chambered cairns either side of the road. We had a look at the one on the right. Pretty grassed over with a big stone showing. Looks a decent size extending into the next field I think. It’s a quiet road to walk down and before long we were at the carpark for the Broch. I’d wanted to visit here last time we were in Orkney but just ran out of time, too many great places to visit round here! Excited to finally make it. The broch and surrounding settlement are very good. There were a few other visitors today but quiet really and lots of space. The ditches round the settlement surprised me. They are big. I think I liked walking round the different buildings of the settlement more than the actual broch. All very interesting. It must have been a busy place to live. It’s easy to imagine the hustle and bustle of daily life as you walk about. The broch still has good sized walls and the well is a bit mysterious. The views from the broch are good. There’s a nice bench near the carpark to sit and look out to sea. Misty Rousay looked inviting across the water. The appearance of layers in the landscape on Rousay reminded me of the layers on the outside of chambered cairns like Wideford etc. I have to mention that we got to meet BC the broch cat too. It’s the friendliest cat. It hangs out at the broch, showing people round. Keep an eye out for BC if you go. |
Posted by thelonious 16th September 2021ce |
Dwarfie Hamars (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Images |
     
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Posted by thelonious 14th September 2021ce |
Dwarfie Hamars (Cave / Rock Shelter) — Fieldnotes |
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08/09/2021 – The Dwarfie Hamars are a wonderful backdrop for the Dwarfie Stane. In an article about the Dwarfie Stane on Orkneyjar they mention a cave high up in the Hamars. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/dwarfiestane/index.html “Could it be that the cave itself, although not necessarily the dwelling place of the workers, was somehow involved in the rituals surrounding the stone?” Canmore also have this entry – https://canmore.org.uk/site/308221/hoy-dwarfie-hamars “A visual assessment and exploration of part of the Hamars led to the discovery of a rock shelter (c9 x 5m and 2.5m high) at the NE end (HY 25013 00479) that may have been used in prehistory. No evidence of occupation was visible on the floor of the shelter but this could be buried below loose rock that has fallen from the roof.” The Rock Shelter listed on Canmore isn’t the easiest to get to. A little bit of scrambling needed at times. Is it the same place as the cave mentioned on Orkneyjar? Does it have any connection to the people who carved out the Dwarfie Stane? Is it just a coincidence that if you stand in front of the entrance to the Dwarfie Stance and look up you are staring straight towards this Rock Shelter? So many questions about the landscape round the Stane, sure makes you wonder whilst there. It’s one of my favourite areas I think. Just a great place to spend the day looking at stuff. |
Posted by thelonious 14th September 2021ce |
Patrick Stone (Natural Rock Feature) — Images |
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Posted by thelonious 14th September 2021ce |
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