Scheduled MonumentsScotlandWideford Hill,chambered cairn
Neolithic · Chambered cairn

Wideford Hill,chambered cairn

Scotland
HES SM90315
Period
Neolithic
Site type
Chambered cairn
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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

Overview

History & significance

Wideford Hill is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated on Mainland Orkney, dating to the fourth millennium BC. The monument comprises a circular cairn containing an internal stone-built chamber accessed via a passage, representing the passage grave tradition characteristic of Orkney's prehistoric burial monuments. The structure demonstrates the architectural sophistication of Neolithic communities in northern Scotland, with its corbelled chamber and carefully constructed passage reflecting both functional design and ceremonial purpose. As a designated scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland records, Wideford Hill remains an important example of Orkney's rich heritage of Neolithic funerary architecture.

Wideford Hill,chambered cairn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90315. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Wideford Hill,chambered cairn?

Wideford Hill is a Neolithic chambered cairn situated on Mainland Orkney, dating to the fourth millennium BC. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90315.

What period does Wideford Hill,chambered cairn date from?

Wideford Hill,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 Wideford Hill,chambered cairn?

Wideford Hill,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 SM90315.

What other scheduled monuments are near Wideford Hill,chambered cairn?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Quanterness, chambered cairn and prehistoric house 50m NW of (1.2 km), Rennibister, souterrain (1.3 km), Ingashowe,broch 300m NE of,Finstown (2 km).

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