Stones of Stenness

The Standing Stones of Stenness are a Neolithic monument five miles northeast of Stromness on the mainland of Orkney [1]. The surviving stones are sited on a promontory at the south bank of the stream that joins the southern ends of the sea loch Loch of Stenness and the freshwater Loch of Harray [1]. The stream is now bridged, but at one time was crossed by a stepping stone causeway, and the Ring of Brodgar lies about 1.2 km away to the north-west [1]. Maeshowe chambered cairn is about 1.2 km to the east of the Standing Stones of Stenness and several other Neolithic monuments also lie in the vicinity, suggesting that this area had particular importance [1]. Although the site today lacks the encircling ditch and bank, excavation has shown this site was a henge monument, possibly the oldest in the British Isles [1]. The stones are thin slabs, approximately 30 cm thick with sharply angled tops [1]. One stone, known as the "Odin Stone" which stood in the field to the north of the henge, was pierced with a circular hole [1].