Discovery of Stone Cists at Stenness, Orkney

Abstract

A group of six stone-built cists was discovered during ploughing. Three contained unburnt human bone at the west end and a water worn stone at the east end. Two were empty while the sixth cist, which lay at a depth of five feet below the others, contained only ashes. A flat triangular stone was found adjacent to one of the large cists and was found to be incised. The markings consist of eight bands of lattice patterns between single marginal lines cut across the edge of the stone.