Blackhammer Chambered Cairn
Blackhammer cairn
Early Neolithic·Orkney Cromarty stalled tradition·🇬🇧 Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom
About
About Blackhammer Chambered Cairn
Stalled chambered cairn on Rousay's south coast with 13 m long rectangular chamber divided by transverse slabs into seven compartments under long cairn 22 m. Walls preserved to 1.5 m with flagstone orthostats. Built c.3500 BCE; excavated 1936–37 jointly with Taversoe Tuick, found two skeletons in last compartment. Classic early Orkney stalled type, now roofed for access.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Seven compartments — family divisions?
Theories
- 01Linear ancestor-veneration architecture
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3500 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic
- Culture
- Orkney Cromarty stalled tradition
- Purpose
- Stalled collective burial chamber
- Abandoned
- Late Neolithic
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1936–37 (Callander & Grant)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1010 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
59.1333° N · 3.0333° W · 40 m · 1 mapped feature
Seven-compartment chamber
chamber13 m stalled chamber divided by slabs
59.1333° N · 3.0333° W
Gallery