The domed burial chamber of Maes Howe is widely held as the finest example of a Neolithic chambered tomb in north-west Europe.
A designated World Heritage Site, Maes Howe was built over 5000 years
ago and to this day much of it is shrouded in mystery. The entrance is
through a narrow stone passage way, made deliberately low, it is
believed, so that you must bow on entry, suggesting that important
tribal leaders were buried here. The centre of tomb measures 6.7metres
high and 35 metres across and is built entirely from slabs of sandstone
with some skilled craftsmanship.
The tomb lay undisturbed
until the 12th Century when it was plundered by Vikings returning from
the crusades. Its not certain whether they found any treasure but there
is an account that when one group entered seeking shelter from a
violent storm tow Vikings went mad with fear and killed themselves. The
Vikings left their mark on Maes Howe with some wonderful carvings of
mythical beasts and Rune writings. However the translations of this
graffiti extolling the virtues (or lack of them) of Viking girlfriends,
show that little has developed since.
The original design of
the tomb was such that the entrance was aligned with the sun and at the
winter solstice the sunlight creeps up the passageway lighting up the
whole chamber. Further evidence of its builders ingenuity and
connections with other Neolithic sites on the island such as the Ring
of Brodgar and the stones at Stenness.
Excellent guided tours
offer a knowledgeable and intriguing account of this ancient structure
and the ancient Orcadians who built it.
Stennes, Co. 
