Archaeological sites in Orkney Islands

Archaeological Wonders of Orkney

Orkney’s landscape preserves over 5,000 years of human history, featuring some of Western Europe's best-preserved Neolithic sites. This collection includes the UNESCO-listed stone village of Skara Brae and the Knap of Howar, which contains the oldest standing stone houses in northern Europe. The list spans from Iron Age defensive structures like the Broch of Gurness to medieval ruins including the 12th-century Bishop’s Palace and the Renaissance-style Earl’s Palace in Kirkwall. Numerous chambered cairns, such as Midhowe and Cuween Hill, offer insight into ancient burial traditions.

Archaeological Wonders of Orkney — Map

Wknight94 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Skara Brae

Uncovered thanks to strong wind and high tide during a storm in the winter of 1850, this prehistoric village is a great example of a stone…

Colin Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Cuween Hill

Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic chambered cairn on Mainland, the main island of Orkney, Scotland, about 6 miles west of Kirkwall.

C Michael Hogan / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Earl's Palace

The Earl's Palace is a ruined Renaissance-style palace near St Magnus's Cathedral in the centre of Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland.

Elisa.rolle / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Bishop's Palace

Built in the early 12th century, the palace was originally built as a private residence for the Bishop. There are only ruins left now.

Chmee2 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Earl's Palace

The Earl's Palace in Birsay, Orkney, Scotland, is a ruined 16th-century castle.

Chmee2 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Broch of Gurness

The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village on the northeast coast of Mainland Orkney in Scotland overlooking Eynhallow Sound, about…

Elisa.rolle / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Skaill House

Skaill House is a historic manor house in Sandwick parish on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

Colin Smith / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Click Mill

Dounby Click Mill is a mill located on the Mainland of Orkney, in Scotland.

Greg Willis / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Unstan Cairn

Unstan is a Neolithic chambered cairn located about 2 mi north-east of Stromness on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland.

MichaelMaggs / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Blackhammer Cairn

Blackhammer Chambered Cairn is a Neolithic chambered cairn located on the island of Rousay, in Orkney, Scotland.

Me677 / Public domain

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Knap of Howar

The Knap of Howar () on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland is a Neolithic farmstead which may be the oldest preserved stone…

Lawrence Jones / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Midhowe Chambered Cairn - 3,500 BC

Midhowe Chambered Cairn is a large Neolithic chambered cairn located on the south shore of the island of Rousay, Orkney, Scotland.

Beep boop beep / CC BY-SA 4.0

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St Nicholas's Church (ruins) aka Orkney Round Church C12

The remains of the Orphir Round Church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, are located in Orphir Parish on the Mainland of Orkney, Scotland.

Stefano Mazzoni / CC-BY-SA

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Taversoe Tuick

Taversöe Tuick is a Neolithic burial cairn on Rousay, Orkney, Scotland, thought to date from between 4000 and 2500 BCE.

Stefano Mazzoni / CC-BY-SA

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Broch of Burrian

The Broch of Burrian is an Iron Age broch located on North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands, in Scotland.

Christopher Hilton / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Wideford Hill

A Neolithic chambered cairn dating from approximately 3000 BC. Built into the steep western slope of the hill, the tomb features a central chamber with three side cells and is reached via a narrow entrance passage.

Other Lists

Orkney Islands Essentials Coastal and Maritime Heritage Historic Churches of Orkney Historic Structures of Orkney