Looking east from the eastern slope of Cuween Hill is a chambered tomb, sometimes known as the Fairy Knowe.
When the tomb was excavated in 1901, by M.M.Charleson, seven human skulls and twenty-four dog skulls were found within the main chamber and the side chambers. There has been some speculation that the dog was a tribal totem (as with red deer at Holm of Papa Westray North and eagles at Isbister).
1/4 The main chamber, looking north.
2/4 The main chamber, looking south. The entrance is at the lower far end of the left wall; the spaces in the facing and right walls lead into subsidiary chanbers.
3/4 Runes carved in Cuween cairn. These are probably fairly recent graffitti rather than genuine Viking runes.
4/4 Enhanced image of the runes.
Nearby Sites
3km Rennibister Earth House Souterrain
4km Maeshowe Chambered Cairn
4km Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn
5km Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement Neolithic Settlement
5km Stones of Stenness Stone Circle
5km Watch Stone Standing Stone
6km Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle
8km Orphir Round Church Church
8km Ring of Bookan Chambered Cairn; Henge
8km St Magnus Cathedral Cathedral
8km Unstan Chambered Cairn Chambered Cairn
14km Gurness Broch
14km Skara Brae Neolithic Village Neolithic Settlement
(NB: All distances are as-the-crow-flies. Lochs, mountains and beautiful winding roads will make it further. Sometimes much further.)