Knowe of Lairo, Neolithic long horned cairn

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Knowe of Lairo, Rousay, Orkney is a remarkable archaeological site dating back to the early Neolithic period around 3600-3200 BC. This impressive long-horned cairn boasts a tripartite chamber that showcases ancient engineering skills. The Knowe's distinctive horns at its eastern end signify its grandeur and majesty, measuring over 45 meters from the entrance of the chamber to its tail. The monument stands proudly at 17 meters wide at the horns and reaches an impressive height of 4.5 meters. Initially, the chamber would have been encased in a stall, but as the tomb progressed, additional walls were constructed, resulting in a narrow passageway approximately 4.5 meters long by less than one meter wide. The chamber itself rises dramatically to 4.2 meters high and narrows significantly to about 50 centimeters wide. Above head height, various lintels stretch across the chamber, adding an extra layer of complexity to this ancient structure. The passage leading into the Knowe is a remarkable 5.8 meters long but constricts to just 50 centimeters by 40 centimeters part way along due to the collapse of a lintel during its construction. For more information about this captivating site, visit CANMORE at https://canmore.org.uk/site/2203/knowe-of-lairo. We extend our gratitude to Kirsty Mainland for granting us permission to access and model this incredible tomb.