Scheduled MonumentsScotlandGrain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston
Iron Age · Two souterrains, hatston

Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston

Scotland
HES SM90154
Period
Iron Age
Site type
Two souterrains, hatston
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Grain Earth House and Grainbank is a pair of Iron Age souterrains located at Hatston in Orkney, Scotland, representing a distinctive class of underground stone-built structures characteristic of northern Britain during the Iron Age period. These subterranean chambers were constructed using drystone masonry techniques and would have served domestic or storage functions within contemporary settlement patterns. The site reflects the architectural traditions of Iron Age Orkney, where such underground structures formed part of the settlement infrastructure, though their precise use remains subject to scholarly interpretation. The souterrains at Hatston contribute to the broader understanding of Iron Age settlement and subsistence practices in the Northern Isles.

Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90154. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston?

Grain Earth House and Grainbank is a pair of Iron Age souterrains located at Hatston in Orkney, Scotland, representing a distinctive class of underground stone-built structures characteristic of northern Britain during the Iron Age period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90154.

What period does Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston date from?

Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston dates from the iron age period, and is classified as a two souterrains, hatston. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston?

Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston 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 SM90154.

What other scheduled monuments are near Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pickaquoy,burnt mound & settlement (0.4 km), Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall (1.1 km), Earl's Palace, Kirkwall (1.2 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

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 Grain Earth House and Grainbank, two souterrains, Hatston