Site Type STANDING STONE
Canmore ID 3180
Site Number HY53NE 6
NGR HY 5645 3718
Council ORKNEY ISLANDS
Parish EDAY
Former Region ORKNEY ISLANDS AREA
Former District ORKNEY
Former County ORKNEY
Datum OSGB36 - NGR

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Notes and Activities

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Archaeological Notes

HY53NE 6 5645 3718.

(HY 5646 3717 ) Stone of Setter (NR)
OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1900).

A large monolith, facing N-S, of irregular shape and much weathered on both faces. It is 15'6" high approx., 5'6" wide at base and 7' wide across the north side at 5' above ground. The thickness varies from 7 1/2" at base to 14" at the middle. The top is very irregular.
RCAHMS 1946.

'Stone of Setter'as described by the RCAHMS.
Visited by OS (NKB) 24 July 1970.

With a height of 4.5m this stone is, the Stenness circle apart, the tallest monolith in Orkney, and with its distinctive profile caused by the deep weathering of the upper part along vertical lines of weakness, it is a famous landmark dominating the col between Calfsound and the Mill Loch valley. Although the deep furrows and undercut profile give
it a precarious appearance, the stone does not seem to be in immediate danger of splitting.
RCAHMS 1984, visited September 1983.

September 1983

ORKNEY SMR NOTE

Notes Large monolith aligned E-W dominating the col between Mill Loch and Calfsound. It is some 15ft 6in high, 5ft 6in wide at base, and 7ft wide across the N side at 5ft above ground. The thickness varies from 7.5in at base to 14in at middle of height. The top is deeply furrowed by weathering giving a distinctive profile. The stone stands on the S perimeter of a circular platform 10m diameter, 0.2m high, which is said to be a modern stack-footing. [R1],
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Sep 83.

Further details

 

Books and References

RCAHMS (1946) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Twelfth report with an inventory of the ancient monuments of Orkney and Shetland, 3v Edinburgh
Page(s): 53-4, No.212 Held at RCAHMS A.1.1.INV/12

RCAHMS (1984d) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Eday and Stronsay, Orkney Islands Area, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 23 Edinburgh
Page(s): 11, No.19 Held at RCAHMS A.1.2.ARC/23

Ritchie, A (1985a) Exploring Scotland's heritage: Orkney and Shetland, Exploring Scotland's heritage series Edinburgh
Page(s): 153, No.86 Held at RCAHMS A.1.4.HER

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