Snaba Hill

Nearest town:
Stromness (11km WSW)
OS reference:
HY352147
OS sheet:
6
Latitude:
59° 0' 52.83 N
Longitude:
3° 7' 42.66 W
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Snaba Hill

wideford
wideford Jun 13, 2004

From The Hillock I decided to try for the Snaba Hill Cairn at HY35221470 (Snaba Hill Cairn & Mounds RCAHMS NMRS Record no. HY31SE 10). Back into Finstown then down to the road that snakes round the mill. As you pass the mill look across The Ouse at the shoreline base of the dump sticking out into the ‘pool’ and tell me those huge stones don’t scream archaeology at you. Around the shoreline here is a black stone pavement and also two standing stones on their lonesome many metres apart. Near the top of the climb a track turns off from the road back over the hill. Follow this all the way to a junction and take the upper line that goes behind Binnaquoy. The first thing I noticed was a small dome cairn sitting atop the far right of a huge band of quarry stone. Even if I had been prepared the combination of the hill’s steepness and the many outcrops and quarries (not all obvious even with hindsight) makes mapreading rather haphazard. So I don’t now even now if I found the sites !! Anyways, at the tracks end (after taking a couple of shots and debating whether to go back or no) I stepped up to the field fence, took tight hold of the wires wrapped round a post, and cautiously swung myself over the barbwire gate. Up to the fence along the top of the field where my two new targets lay. The other side was the quarry outcrop. To its left unfortunately just the other side of the fence was the mound that could have been Snaba Hill Cairn. But that was distinguished by the tops of a circular ring of stones splayed outwards whereas this (?HY352146) had many stones over it and when I went to the right end and looked at the back there was a chunk out at the lower end with a very neat open-ended box wall inside it. At the top end of the fence was a large spanking-new shed so for now I curtailed further investigation. Along the lower side of the track back down was the other seeming mound (?HY354145). The record for Snaba Hill Cairn does mention mounds to its NE. Some mound seen previously were not found later so perhaps these are they misplaced ?? Just as with Paerkeith over the alley mounds are specifically mentioned at 200m and 350m datum and I wonder if there is a significance to that.

Miscellaneous

Snaba Hill
Round Barrow(s)
wideford
wideford Sep 10, 2004

Three notices :

1) A 20’by about 2’ mound is above Harroldshay farm and there are two of similar size alongside. Snaba Hill Mound 100m to the south.

2) Snaba Hill Mound 45’ diameter 4’ high at 200’ OD on shoulder of hill. 3 mounds short distance to NE ; 1 above Harroldshay and the other two close by. About 100m S, but still on the brow of the hill, is a mound 35’ diameter by 4’.

3) Most recent only located slightly oval mound 14x12x1.2m with ring of stones around the W side, set on edge leaning out But this at 350’ OD.

Sites within 20km of Snaba Hill

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