Scheduled MonumentsScotlandHelliar Holm,chambered cairn
Neolithic · Chambered cairn

Helliar Holm,chambered cairn

Scotland
HES SM1275
Period
Neolithic
Site type
Chambered cairn
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Helliar Holm is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Orkney, Scotland, dating to the third millennium BC. The monument consists of a stone-built burial structure characteristic of the Orkney–Cromarty tradition of chambered tombs, which served as communal burial places for Neolithic communities. Like other cairns of this type in Orkney, it would have comprised a central chamber or chambers accessed by a passage, all contained within a mound of stones. Such monuments represent significant archaeological evidence for understanding Neolithic burial practices, settlement patterns, and social organisation in the northern Scottish islands during the early prehistoric period.

Helliar Holm,chambered cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1275. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Helliar Holm,chambered cairn?

Helliar Holm is a Neolithic chambered cairn located in Orkney, Scotland, dating to the third millennium BC. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1275.

What period does Helliar Holm,chambered cairn date from?

Helliar Holm,chambered cairn dates from the neolithic period, and is classified as a chambered cairn. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Helliar Holm,chambered cairn?

Helliar Holm,chambered cairn 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 SM1275.

What other scheduled monuments are near Helliar Holm,chambered cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Head of Work,long cairn (1.5 km), Car Ness Battery,Car Ness (1.8 km), Hillock of Howe,broch (2.8 km).

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