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Bu of Orphir is a burnt mound and associated mill dam situated approximately 250 metres north-west of Bu Farm in the parish of Orphir, Orkney. Burnt mounds of this type are archaeological features characteristic of the Bronze Age and later periods, formed by the accumulation of fire-cracked stones resulting from repetitive heating and cooling cycles, typically associated with hot-water processing activities such as cooking or textile production. The site's proximity to a mill dam indicates later medieval or post-medieval activity related to grain milling, demonstrating multiple phases of use across different periods. The monument survives as a visible earthwork feature and remains an important indicator of prehistoric settlement and resource exploitation patterns in Orkney.
Bu of Orphir, burnt mound and mill dam 250m NW of Bu Farm is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4725. View the official record →
Bu of Orphir is a burnt mound and associated mill dam situated approximately 250 metres north-west of Bu Farm in the parish of Orphir, Orkney. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM4725.
Bu of Orphir, burnt mound and mill dam 250m NW of Bu Farm is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM4725.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Lavacroon, settlement W of Bu of Orphir (0.2 km), St Nicholas' Church, settlement and mill, Orphir (0.4 km), Hillock of Breakna, broch 300m SE of Swanbister House (2 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Bu of Orphir, burnt mound and mill dam 250m NW of Bu Farm