Braeside chambered cairn facts for kids
Braeside chambered cairn
|
|
 Location in Orkney Islands
|
|
| Location | Eday, Orkney, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 59°13′21″N 2°46′00″W / 59.222483°N 2.766787°W |
| Type | Chambered cairn |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
The Braeside chambered cairn is a very old burial monument from the Neolithic period (also known as the New Stone Age). It's located on the island of Eday in Orkney, Scotland. This ancient tomb is a special type called an Orkney-Cromarty stalled cairn. It's built similarly to the Midhowe Chambered Cairn on Rousay island. Over time, parts of the Braeside cairn have been removed, so today you mostly see some upright stones covered by grass and plants. You can find this cairn along the Eday Heritage Trail.
What is the Braeside Cairn?
The Braeside chambered cairn is an ancient burial place found on Eday, one of the Orkney islands in Scotland. This tomb is in the northern part of the island. It is also part of the Eday Heritage Trail, which is a path for visitors. The cairn is located southeast of another ancient site, the Vinquoy chambered cairn. It is also north of a large standing stone called the Stone of Setter.
How Was It Built?
Braeside is known as an Orkney-Cromarty stalled cairn. This means its inside spaces are separated by tall, upright stone slabs. Imagine a long room divided into smaller sections by stone walls.
The monument measures about 31 meters (102 feet) long and 17.6 meters (58 feet) wide. The entrance to the tomb faces south, directly towards the Stone of Setter.
What Can You See Today?
Many years ago, this tomb was explored, and some parts were taken away. Today, you can still see several pairs of upright stone slabs. You can also see the original back stone of the tomb. The entire monument is now covered with grass and a plant called heather.
Interestingly, this cairn was originally built using rounded stones. This is different from many other similar tombs, which were often made with flat stone slabs. Just beyond the main monument, there are some other large stone slabs. These suggest there might have been a smaller, second chamber connected to the main tomb.
See also
