06.07.2024 Here and There Stenness, Unstan Quoyloo etc.

 Well it started out a bit drizzly this morning but it wasn't too cold. Master and Missus decided to take us to Unstan Cairn first today. Unstan Cairn was named after the large amount of Unstan ware Pottery that was found there when it was excavate in 1844. This pottery has a distinctive shape and decoration. The cain itself is thought to date from 3500BC. The narrow entrance passage is 6.5m long, plenty long enough for Missus to be crawling on her hands and knees. That in turn opens into a 2m high 6.6m long and 1.9m wide chamber divided into 5 chambers there is a small entrance to a small chamber opposite the entrance passage. This passage has a Northeast alignment with the Watchstone and the large house at Barnhouse Village near the Stones of Stenness. The passage is illuminated by the rising sun around Midsummer. During the excavation of 1884, large amounts of Human and Animal bones were found, but very few of the bones were kept and no records made. Unstan Pottery was also found at the 'Tomb of the Eagles' now permanently closed to the public.

                                                         Introduction to Unstan Cairn

Unstan Cairn

                                         Inside looking out, we crawled in on Hands and Knees

A concrete dome had been put on top of the cain in recent years and this had a sky light in it, so we could see inside.

                                                                    Small chamber inside

One of the end Chambers.

We then drove round to the Barnhouse Village near the Stones of Stenness. If we had got there sooner we could have gone on the guided tour that is run every day at 10.00am. There was quite a group of people listening to the guide. Perhaps we will go next week and find out more about the place. When we got out of the car Master noticed 3 Seals basking on rocks,  just out of the water. They looked as though they were sitting on the water! So it was decided that after the village visit we would go home and get our big cameras. It was a short walk to the village from The Stones of Stenness.  This village was discovered in 1984, and a few of the houses have been preserved above ground  for people to see and walk in. There are at least 12 structures there. 2 large substantial structures here suggest they possibly were more for ceremonial use than dwelling. One is large and round with a symbolic fire place at its entrance. The other a large rectangular two chambered house was found to have a burial cist in it. Again archaeologists think this building had a ceremonial purpose. Missus was very taken with the beautiful grasses on the periphery of the village she missed seeing the Vole Master saw crossing the path in front of him. He said it was quite big. We were able to see a tunnel in the grass that it regularly used. Very exciting.

Plan of Barnhouse Village

The Rectangular house that had a burial Cist in it.

The Large circular and square house with the Ceremonial Hearth  at its entrance

We headed home following the various diversions in place as there is a Triathlon in and around Stromness today, so the traffic wasn't going in both directions, it was one way round Stromness as the cycling portion of the Triathlon was taking this route too. We had coffee and a biscuit when we got home,  then packed up our big cameras to take with us. It was nice for me as I got to ride in the backpack and not in Missus pocket which is a bit tight for a bear like me. Master mean time looked up the Vole and found it was an Orkney Vole. Not found on the mainland UK and is larger than a mainland Vole. We all wished we had seen it now. Oh well never mind. we went back to Loch Stenness and by this time there was only one Seal on a rock so we photographed that and the beautiful Swan family with one Cygnet. The mother swan was trying to encourage the Cygnet to get the vegetation from just under the surface she was pulling up for it. It was trying but it was still too light and buoyant to dive down for it. It was quite amusing to watch. 

After there we decided to go to Maeshowe Visitor Centre. There were no visits available to book till the end of August. Master wants to see this place but the entrance Passage is 10m long and therefore too long for Missus. The lady on reception though did say that if master could get there early in the morning if they have enough staff on duty then there are some day tickets issued. Master is going to try on Monday, we hope he is lucky. He did buy a guide book of the place though to get an insight. Then Master and Missus were discussing where they were going for lunch, things got a bit heated when Missus was reading out a post code for one of the places and Master though she said SF and not SS, oh well we did head for Quoyloo  for lunch and ended up at the Orkney Brewery. It was packed in their restaurant and we were lucky to get a table. It is wise to book a table. Missus had a Haggis and Orkney Cheese Burger this came with Fries and Salad.  Master had a Steak and Ale Pie with Fries and Peas.  They were absolute platefuls when they came, quite a lot of Fries, hmm a bit too many. Sadly Morgan and I weren't offered any. Master said the Pastry on his pie was lovely. Master couldn't quite finish all his pie, there was rather a lot. The Haggis and Orkney Cheese burger was thoroughly enjoyed by Missus and there was none left! The building itself had been an old School and there were ink pads and stamps around the room. Master stamped Morgan's Passport, but he can't read what it says. Missus had forgotten to take mine. So I think they should go back again and get mine stamped. Then we came home.

We must be up early tomorrow morning as we are going to Hoy to the Skapa Flow Museum. Night Night.