Blackhammer Chambered Cairn

Blackhammer is a rectangular Neolithic cairn on Rousay containing a long chamber divided into seven compartments by paired upright slabs. A passage entered from the southern side rather than from the end. Excavation by Callander and Grant in 1936 revealed human remains, pottery, stone objects and animal bones. The structure also preserves changes made during its use: additional masonry was inserted across the chamber, although its precise purpose and date are uncertain. Eventually the entrance was blocked, with the closing stones arranged to match the distinctive sloping pattern of the outer wall. The chamber then appears to have been filled with earth and rubble. These details show attention both to the original building and to its final closure. The exposed remains are therefore evidence of construction, alteration and burial practice, rather than a tomb left unchanged throughout its existence. Period: Neolithic Grid reference: HY 4142 2761 Protection: Source: Historic Environment Scotland, https://www.trove.scot/place/2645 (Open Government Licence). Contains Historic Environment Scotland data licensed under the Open Government Licence; source compiler retained per record. Banner photo: "Blackhammer Chambered Cairn" by N Chadwick, via Geograph (https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7811231), licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.