Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney
Barnhouse Monolith
Late Neolithic·Grooved Ware·🇬🇧 Orkney, Mainland, Stenness, United Kingdom
About
About Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney
Outlier monolith 700 m NW of Barnhouse settlement and 800 m from Stones of Stenness, part of Heart of Neolithic Orkney ritual landscape. Recorded context — Period: Late Neolithic; Culture: Grooved Ware; Field status: unexcavated; Materials: sandstone; Condition: preserved.
Why it mattersKey Grooved Ware megalithic with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Astronomical alignment
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Elite residence
- 02Defensive stronghold
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. 3100 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic
- Culture
- Grooved Ware
- Purpose
- Solitary standing stone — outliers to Ness of Brodgar ritual landscape
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1867
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
2005 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney
c. 3100 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney
On the ground
Structures & features
58.9950° N · 3.2060° W · 12 m · 3 mapped features
- Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — Principal Standing Stonestanding stonestanding stone at Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — hydraulic feature58.9948° N · 3.2051° W
- Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — Chamber Annex 2chamberchamber at Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — outlier feature58.9951° N · 3.2047° W
- Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — Southern Cairncairncairn at Barnhouse Stone — Standing Monolith Orkney — primary structure58.9936° N · 3.2073° W
Gallery