The Orkney Image Library
Help us get organised! If we haven't correctly identified which area this picture is best listed under, please select it below and click Done!
This is an old postcard from 1900 or thereabouts.
Picture added on 12 November 2012 at 10:38
I know the alter table top is no longer there,but it was still in place in 1965 as I have a picture of people standing on top of it. Does anyone know when it fell, or was taken, off?
Added by Norma Campbell on 12 November 2012
Historic Scotland or its predessor took it off as it was a Victorian addition (I think)
Added by W Watters on 14 November 2012
www.orkneyjar.com/history/standingstones/altar.htm tells all about this part of the stones.
Added by Laurence Tait on 18 November 2012
One name for an 'altar' arrangement of stones is 'dolmen'. Here's a piece of doggerel that appeared in The Orkney View years ago:
Stones of Stenness, haunt of troll-men,
Used to have a sort of dolmen.
God knows what it was installed for -
It was totally uncalled-for.
Stones of Stenness, haunt of troll-men,
Used to have a sort of dolmen.
God knows what it was installed for -
It was totally uncalled-for.
Added by Ian Hourston on 19 November 2012
The 'altar table' was added in the early 1900's although there is no evidence that it represented any original structure. I'm led to believe that the table stone returned to ground level following a Hallowe'en caper in the 1970's. Conveniently (for the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works - forerunner to Historic Scotland) it was never replaced. The vandals of those days must have had an eye for archaeological accuracy - never mind brute strength...)
Added by Dave Dawson on 19 November 2012
This is where my ashes will be going, when the time comes.
<< back
Added by Morag Lennie on 19 November 2012
Burray
