Neolithic Outreach Research Tombs of the Isles

Rousay is the venue for this month’s ‘Tombs of the Isles’ project launch

Rousay will play host to the inaugural event of a new project to explore the Neolithic chambered tombs in Orkney’s North Isles later this month.
Taversoe Tuick, Rousay. (Sigurd Towrie)
Tombs of the Isles Logo

Rousay will play host to the inaugural event of a new project to explore the Neolithic chambered tombs in Orkney’s North Isles later this month.

The Tombs of the Isles project will get under way on Monday, November 29, with an introductory talk in the Rousay School at 7.30pm.

Outside the Blackhammer stalled cairn, Rousay. (Sigurd Towrie)

The following day, Tuesday, November 30, residents can drop in to the Heritage Centre from 2-4pm to look at the island’s 16 stalled and chambered tombs, view artefacts and discuss the creation of a Rousay “tomb archive”.

Led by the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA), part of the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute, Tombs of the Isles was commissioned by the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS).

The project will see a programme of research, walks, workshops and archaeological fieldwork (survey, geophysics, excavation) investigate some of the most iconic tombs in the North Isles of Orkney and bring the lesser known sites into the spotlight.

Joining ORCA archaeologists Dan Lee and Bobby Friel at the launch will be Professor Jane Downes, director of the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute.

Both events are free and open to all.

The backslab inside the Blackhammer stalled cairn, Rousay. (Sigurd Towrie)