Blackhammer Chambered Cairn facts for kids
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Blackhammer Chambered Cairn is a really old stone structure on Rousay, an island in Orkney, Scotland. It's a special type of ancient tomb built by people long, long ago. This amazing place is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland to keep it safe.
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Discovering Blackhammer Cairn
Imagine a time almost 5,000 years ago! That's when the Blackhammer Cairn was built, around 3000 BC. It's from a period called the Neolithic Age. This was a time when people started farming and building big stone monuments. A "cairn" is a pile of stones, often used to cover a burial chamber.
What is a Chambered Cairn?
Blackhammer is a "stalled cairn." This means its inside is divided into several small rooms or "compartments." Imagine a long hallway with stone walls sticking out like stalls in a stable. These walls separate the main passage into seven different areas.
Exploring Inside
When it was first built, the cairn was only a few feet high. Today, it has a modern roof to protect it. You can get inside through a hatchway and ladder in the roof. The original entrance was sealed up a long time ago.
Clues from the Past
Archaeologists have found interesting things inside Blackhammer Cairn. They discovered old bones and pieces of pottery. These finds help us learn about the people who lived here thousands of years ago. They tell us about their lives and how they buried their dead.
Images for kids
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Blackhammer Chambered Cairn from the outside.
