Scheduled MonumentsScotlandSorquoy,standing stone,Papley
Bronze Age · Standing stone,papley

Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley

Scotland
HES SM1386
Period
Bronze Age
Site type
Standing stone,papley
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Sorquoy is a Bronze Age standing stone located on the Orkney Mainland near Papley. The monument consists of a single upright stone of considerable height, typical of ritual or territorial markers erected during the Bronze Age in the Northern Isles. Standing stones of this period in Orkney are thought to have served functions related to ceremonial practice, burial rites, or landscape demarcation, though the precise purpose of individual examples remains uncertain. The stone survives as a significant physical reminder of Bronze Age settlement and cultural practice in Orkney, contributing to the rich archaeological record of prehistoric monumental activity in the islands.

Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1386. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley?

Sorquoy is a Bronze Age standing stone located on the Orkney Mainland near Papley. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1386.

What period does Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley date from?

Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a standing stone,papley. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley?

Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley 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 SM1386.

What other scheduled monuments are near Sorquoy,standing stone,Papley?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Clouduhall (or Cloddyhall) standing stone & cairn (3.8 km), Burray Ness, anti-aircraft battery (WW1), Burray (6.1 km), Isbister, chambered cairn 450m ESE of (6.9 km).

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