Stone of Setter facts for kids
Stone of Setter, Eday
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 Location in Orkney Islands
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| Location | Sanday, Orkney, Scotland |
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| Coordinates | 59°13′09″N 2°45′52″W / 59.21904°N 2.76456°W |
| Type | Standing stone |
| History | |
| Periods | Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
The Stone of Setter is a very old and tall standing stone found on the island of Eday in Orkney, Scotland. It was put there by people living during the Late Neolithic (New Stone Age) or Early Bronze Age, which was about 4,000 years ago. This amazing stone is the tallest single stone in Orkney, except for those at the Stones of Stenness. It has been protected as an important historical site by Historic Environment Scotland since 1936.
Where to Find the Stone of Setter
The Stone of Setter stands about 25 meters (82 feet) above sea level. It is located in the middle-north part of Eday island in Orkney, Scotland. From its spot, it looks out over an area of water called Calf Sound.
This ancient stone is also close to several old burial sites. These include the Vinquoy, Huntersquoy, and Braeside chambered cairns. The Stone of Setter is on private land, but you can still see it clearly from the road.
What the Stone of Setter Looks Like
The Stone of Setter is a very tall stone pillar, also known as a monolith. It is made of sandstone and has an uneven shape. This stone was placed here during the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age, likely around 2000 BC.
The stone is about 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) tall. It is about 2.1 meters (6.9 feet) wide. Its thickness changes, from 0.9 meters (3 feet) at the bottom to 0.35 meters (1.1 feet) in the middle. The stone shows signs of being weathered by time, with deep vertical lines. It still stands in the exact spot where it was originally placed thousands of years ago.
The large stone sits on the southern edge of a round, flat area. This area is about 10 meters (33 feet) across and 0.2 meters (0.7 feet) high. The Stone of Setter is the tallest single standing stone in Orkney, only shorter than the stones at the famous Stones of Stenness. Since 1936, Historic Environment Scotland has officially protected this site as a scheduled monument.
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