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Ward of Housebay is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated south-south-west of Housebay on Orkney, Scotland. The monument is constructed upon bedrock of Middle Devonian sandstone, interspersed with siltstone and marl, geology that would have shaped both the construction methods and the appearance of the cairn when built. Chambered cairns of this type, dating to the Neolithic period, represent some of Scotland's oldest monumental architecture, serving as communal burial places for the dead. The solid sandstone foundation of this location would have provided a stable base for such a substantial stone structure.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under the reference SM1411, reflecting its importance as an archaeological and cultural asset. The Orkney islands are particularly rich in Neolithic remains, with chambered cairns forming a significant part of the archaeological heritage. The Ward of Housebay exemplifies the sophisticated understanding of stone construction and burial practice that characterised Neolithic Orkneyan communities, whose engineering knowledge allowed them to create durable monuments from the local stone that continues to endure across millennia.
Ward of Housebay,chambered cairn SSW of Housebay is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1411. View the official record →
Ward of Housebay is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated south-south-west of Housebay on Orkney, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1411.
Ward of Housebay,chambered cairn SSW of Housebay dates from the neolithic period, and is classified as a chambered cairn ssw of housebay. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Ward of Housebay,chambered cairn SSW of Housebay 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 SM1411.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Benni Cuml, mound, Housebay, Stronsay (0.3 km), Lamb Head,broch,Stronsay (2 km), Auskerry, mound 275m SSW of The Old House (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Ward of Housebay,chambered cairn SSW of Housebay's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Ward of Housebay,chambered cairn SSW of Housebay stands on Middle Devonian sandstone, bedrock that formed in the Middle Devonian. The rock here is major:{sandstone}, Minor{siltstone,marl}.