A cliff-edge tomb on South Ronaldsay became famous for human bones and sea-eagle remains. The Tomb of the Eagles, or Isbister Chambered Cairn, is a Neolithic chambered tomb, a stone burial monument with an internal chamber.
The story begins with farmer Ronald Simison finding the site while digging flagstones in 1958, then widens into a major excavation and debate. Thousands of human bones, eagle talons and bones, later dating work, injury evidence, and the site’s modern closure all make it one of Orkney’s most discussed tombs.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Ronald Simison discovered the tomb while digging flagstones in 1958. John Hedges later mounted a full study and wrote a popular book that cemented the Tomb of the Eagles name. Excavation found about 16,000 human bones from at least 324 individuals.
The human bones were mixed with talons and bones from eight to twenty white-tailed sea eagles. New dating indicated the eagles died around 2450-2050 BC, up to 1,000 years after the tomb was built. Radiocarbon dating suggests construction may have taken a full century.
The tomb was used regularly for about 800 years, with the last burial around 1600 BC. The tomb closed in 2020 and the pack says it is not currently open to the public. In June 2025 a development trust announced National Lottery Heritage Fund support toward purchasing the site with the aim of eventually reopening it.
People
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Ronald Simison
farmer who discovered the tomb in 1958.
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John Hedges
archaeologist who conducted a full study and popularised the Tomb of the Eagles name.
In culture
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The tomb featured in the BBC Two archaeology series Britain's Ancient Capital: Secrets of Orkney in January 2017.
What to look for
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Human and eagle remains
The pack records thousands of human bones and white-tailed sea-eagle remains.
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Cliff-edge setting
The tomb lies at Isbister on South Ronaldsay.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 58.7450°N · 2.9169°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 the tomb closed in 2020 and is not currently open to the public.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is the Tomb of the Eagles?
- It is the Isbister Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic chambered tomb on South Ronaldsay.
- Why is it called the Tomb of the Eagles?
- Excavation found eagle talons and bones mixed with human remains, although later work suggested the birds were added long after the tomb was built.
- Is it open to visitors?
- The pack says it closed in 2020 and is not currently open to the public.
- Who discovered it?
- Farmer Ronald Simison discovered it in 1958 while digging flagstones.
Sources
- Wikipedia article
- Source pack: Tomb of the Eagles
Explore more: Tomb or burial places · Prehistoric · Orkney Islands
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