Ring of Brodgar
Orkney
Stone Circle
Sandstone
Elevated and inclined on the Ness of Brodgar, this ring of sixty stones sits within a henge one hundred and five metres in diameter. It is thought the stones were quarried from different locations around Orkney which has given contrasting shapes and colours on the rough inward-facing surfaces. Different minerals within the stones, along with their spacing and exposure to the elements, has created a variety of weathering and lichen growth within this one circle.
Stones of Stenness
Orkney
Stone Circle
Sandstone
Set in a commanding position between the Loch of Stenness and the Loch of Harray, four large stones remain standing from the original twelve, with an altar stone complex at its centre. Unlike nearby Brodgar weathering and lichen growth has been curiously minimal, with these stones being some of the oldest in neolithic Britain.
Unstan
Orkney
Chambered Cairn
Sandstone
In 1884, along with human remains and flint tools, a large quantity of pottery fragments were discovered here, which prompted the generic term 'Unstan ware'. In recent years, the cairn has been given a skylight roof which enables the visitor to fully appreciate the character of the interior. It remains to be seen how the increased light level will alter the coloration of the stone after five thousand years of darkness.
Dwarfie Stane
Orkney
Chambered Tomb
Sandstone
This unique burial chamber is made from one single slab of sandstone. The exterior grey colour is tinged with pink and has a covering of white crustose and Black Spot lichen. The damp interior has developed an additional green complexion. Many stones from this period have acquired graffiti over time. Latin and Arabic inscriptions can be seen on its southern side.
