Stone steps descend inside a mound in Tankerness to a small corbelled chamber, built with overlapping stones that narrow towards the roof, below ground. Mine Howe is an Iron Age subterranean chamber, a man-made underground structure whose purpose remains unresolved.
Its story has several rediscoveries. First explored in 1946 and misidentified as a broch (an Iron Age drystone round tower), it was covered over for decades before farmer Douglas Paterson reopened it in 1999; Time Team then helped investigate the structure and surrounding ditch in 2000 without reaching firm conclusions about its age or use.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Mine Howe lies in the Tankerness area of Orkney, south-east of Kirkwall. Experts believe it was built roughly two thousand years ago during the Iron Age.
The howe name derives from Old Norse haugr, meaning barrow. The chamber was dug six metres deep inside a large mound.
Its stone-lined walls form an arch over the cavity, with twenty-nine steps leading to a rock floor. The stair descends to a half-landing, turns back, and continues down to a small high chamber with a corbelled roof.
Two subsidiary chambers or passages open from the half-landing, one above the other. Mine Howe was first explored in 1946 and misidentified as an Iron Age broch.
After the 1940s excavations it was covered over and almost forgotten for nearly fifty years. Douglas Paterson rediscovered the site in 1999, cleared infill, built an entrance, and allowed visitors inside.
Time Team came to Mine Howe in June 2000 to help with excavations and test construction through a small replica. Sections of a surrounding ditch and an apparent earthen access path were excavated.
No firm conclusions have been made about the age or purpose of Mine Howe.
People
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Douglas Paterson
farmer who rediscovered and reopened the site in 1999.
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Time Team
archaeological television programme that helped investigate the site in 2000.
What to look for
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Descending stair
Twenty-nine stone steps lead down through the mound.
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Corbelled chamber
The small lower chamber has a high corbelled roof.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 58.9388°N · 2.8523°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
The source pack does not provide reliable current admission details; verify before travelling.
- The pack says a former owner allowed visitors inside after 1999, but gives no reliable current access details.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is Mine Howe?
- It is an Iron Age subterranean stone chamber dug inside a mound in Tankerness.
- What does howe mean?
- The pack derives it from Old Norse haugr, meaning barrow.
- Who rediscovered it?
- Farmer Douglas Paterson rediscovered and reopened the site in 1999.
- Do archaeologists know its purpose?
- No. The pack says no firm conclusions have been made about its age or purpose.
Sources
- Wikipedia article
- Source pack: Mine Howe
Explore more: Tomb or burial places · Prehistoric · Orkney Islands
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