The interior of the Tomb of the Eagles at Isbister South Ronaldsay Orkney Isles SCO 5896
Isbister Chambered Cairn sits on the south-eastern tip of South Ronaldsay. Better known today as the 'Tomb of the Eagles', the cairn was discovered by local farmer, Ronald Simison (Ronnie) in 1958. The discovery, like so many of Orkney's other prehistoric monuments, was purely accidental. Ronnie was looking near the cliff edge for stone to make corner posts for fencing. Weather erosion on a grassy mound revealed horizontal stones. Here Ronnie uncovered a wonderful cache of tools - most probably ceremonial - a perfect mace head, 3 small axe heads, including one made of haematite, a knife and a perfect albertite 'button' (all of which are on show in the visitor centre). Intrigued by his find, Ronnie began digging, eventually reaching a dark hole. Using his cigarette lighter, he revealed a chamber containing approximately 30 human skulls - his first encounter with his 5000 year old ancestors. Soon after its discovery, the cairn was sealed up again, awaiting a thorough archaeological excavation within 2 to 3 years. In 1976, almost 20 years later, circumstances enabled Ronnie to undertake the excavation himself. Isbister Chambered Cairn is estimated to have been built around 3000bc, and used for approximately 800 years. It is metres high and consists of a rectangular main chamber, divided into stalls and side cells. It is believed the human remains belonged to around 340 individuals. No complete skeleton was found suggesting that the bodies had been excarnated - left outside until the bones were clean. Recent research questions both the excarnation idea and number of people in the tomb. Once inside the Tomb, at some point the skulls were laid in side chambers and the other bones set in the two end cells.
Size: 3936px × 5331px
Location: Tomb of the Eagles Liddle, St. Margarets Hope, Orkney, Scotland, KW17 2RW
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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