WEDNESDAY: A WALK THROUGH THE MISTS

Today we did not have that lucky transformation of weather at midday. It was mist; mist and more mist nonetheless dry. 

We had to work up an appetite for the afternoon’s tea and shortbread with another escapade. Not too far from Milbrig is another Chambered Cairn (mound) for us to pay tribute, at Unstan, on the southern end of Lock Stenness.

Wonderful stone work at Unstan

The Chambered Cairn at Unstan was discovered and excavated in 1884 and 1934. It is now maintained and left alone for us to visit by Scottish Heritage. Unstan is an example of another site looked after but not fussed over. Along a path of some hundred metres, as directed by a lady doing her garden, we came to this burial place for a farming community that lived here 4,500 years ago.

On hands and knees we made our way through the narrow entrance passage into a rectangular chamber in which we could stand up and admire the construction. There was perfect dry stonework with upright slabs creating compartments or stalls. One can only guess at the ceremonies that took place here. The effort to build this place and a number of similar Cairns that were in use for such a long period of time show that they were central to the society here for one thousand years.

On this part of Orkney there is an abundance of Neolithic treasures; Maes Howe, Barn house Farmstead, Stones of Stenness, the Ring of Brodgar, and currently under wraps, literally, the Ness of Brodgar which is excavated each summer at moment. All testify to the depth and breath of a culture that grew up and thrived hereabouts.