Maes Howe, Orkney, UK
Maes Howe, Orkney, UK [Si].Neolithic DEVELOPED PASSAGE GRAVE on Mainland in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. Constructed around 2750 BC the site has been partially investigated on several occasions, the first systematic excavations being those by Gordon Childe in 1954–5; later work includes a section through the surrounding ditch by Colin Renfrew in 1973–4, and a trench on the platform immediately outside the entrance by Colin Richards in 1991. Prior to all these, however, the central chamber had been entered and sacked by Vikings in the 12th century ad. They made runic inscriptions on the walls and claimed, amongst other things, to have carried off a great treasure.
The main mound is 7.3m high and 35m in diameter. A passage 12m long leads into the mound from the southwest side and gives access to a very well-constructed vaulted chamber about 4.5m square. This chamber has small square cells set into three of its...
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