Knowes of Trotty — Harray, Orkney
Knowes o' Trotty · Knowes of Trotty burnished cemetery
Early Bronze Age (c.2000–1500 BCE)·Orcadian Early Bronze Age (Beaker–Food Vessel)·🇬🇧 Scotland, Orkney, Mainland, Harray parish, near Finstown, United Kingdom
About
About Knowes of Trotty — Harray, Orkney
The Knowes of Trotty (Early Bronze Age c.2000–1800 BCE) is a 1.5-m high burnt mound cemetery of 8 low barrows on the Harray lochside, famous 1858 excavation by George Petrie yielding the richest Early Bronze Age grave goods in Orkney: four gold discs, amber beads from the Baltic, jet buttons and bronze knives in a cist. The largest barrow 25 m diameter covers a central cist with cremation and collared urn. Later Iron Age and Viking reuse overlays the Bronze Age horizon, with preservation under peat.
Why it mattersRichest Orkney Bronze Age grave goods; key for gold provenance studies.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Source of gold — Irish vs continental?
Theories
- 01Orkney–Wessex gold trade via amber route c.2000 BCE
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.2000–1800 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze Age (c.2000–1500 BCE)
- Culture
- Orcadian Early Bronze Age (Beaker–Food Vessel)
- Builders
- Orcadian Early Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Cremation barrow cemetery with high-status EBA gold/amber exchange
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2000 BCE
Barrow 1 built, gold/amber cremation interment
c.1800–1500 BCE
Secondary barrows added
1858
George Petrie excavates, finds gold discs
2005
Card and Downes re-evaluate; peat sampling
On the ground
Structures & features
59.0382° N · 3.1481° W · 20 m · 2 mapped features
Knowes of Trotty Barrow 1 — Gold Disc Cist
cist25-m barrow with central cist containing 4 gold discs, amber beads and bronze knife with cremation
59.0385° N · 3.1475° WKnowes of Trotty Cemetery — Barrow Cluster
barrowCluster of 8 low barrows 10–25 m dia. with collared urn inserts and peat-hidden cists
59.0379° N · 3.1485° W
Gallery