View from south east.
A probable single stone row measuring 16.2m long, including two large-sized orthostats and one medium-sized stone situated on the western side of a rock outcrop. The row is orientated north to south. Three separate sea views are visible from the row and two distinctive promontories are visually linked by prominent rock outcrops.
Location
| Scotland | Shetland | Rest of Scotland | HU 21710 57482 |
| Lat 60.300895 Long -1.6090237 | |||
Map showing the location of Rinns Of Shurdimires stone row.
Plan of Rinns of Shurdimires stone row (Source: Survey by Sandy Gerrard at 1:200).
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 16.2m |
| No. of stones: 3 | Size of stones: Medium and large |
| Orientation: 178° | Altitude: 31m |
| Upper end: – | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : No | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: Burnt mound | |
| Notes: Also known as Crawton. This row is most similar to the one at Higher Town Bay on the Isles of Scilly. It seems remarkable that the rows at the furthest margins should be so similar in form and character. This detail may be significant and imply planning on a scale not hitherto imagined or represent an incredible coincidence. | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: Yes |
Interpretation
Category: Probable. The only element of doubt regarding this row relates to the local field wall building tradition which incorporates occasional large standing stones in their construction. The possibility therefore must be acknowledged that this is the heavily robbed remains of a field boundary. On the other hand the very precise visual relationships with prominent promontories and the appearance of the row with the stones arranged in descending height order all support the interpretation of this site as a prehistoric stone row.
Typology
This stone row is of Type S3. Information on this form of stone row and other rows of this type is available here.
Photographs
View from the east. The stones are arranged in height order with the tallest on the south and smallest on the north. The southern stone measures 1.1m long by 0.8m wide and 1.47m high, the central stone is 0.81m long by 0.66m wide and 1.18m high and the northern stone is 0.80m long by 0.51m wide and 0.66m high.
View from north. The outcrop on the east restricts views in that direction.
View from north west (Scale 1m).
View from the south with sea view and promontories beyond.
View from NNE (Scale 1m).
Looking north along the row (Scale 1m).
View from south east.
Landscape Comment
The stone row points at the distant Esha Ness promontory. It is hard to believe that this is a coincidence and would certainly imply that the distinctive promontory was of significance to the builders of the row. It is probably also significant that the promontory is “sign-posted” by a nearby distinctive outcrop. View from south.
A very precise closed sea view formed by the Ness of Hillswick is visible from the row looking NNE. Again it is difficult to avoid the obvious conclusion that the row was built to celebrate this particular visual treat.
From the southern stone the promontory at Geuberry Head on Papa Stour is “sign-posted” by an outcrop at the top of the nearby cliff. This type of visiual relationship is typical of those found at many stone rows.
The nearby outcrop also points to Geuberry Head from the northern stone.
The visual relationships between the outcrops and the distant promontories is further evidence that the rows were often carefully sited with the landscape in mind.
A third separate sea view is visible from the row. Due west a sliver of sea is visible.
Access Information
Limited car parking is available at HU 22215 57620. From here walk back along the road to HU 21753 57686. Follow the track south for a short distance and then head up the hill to the row.
Nearest Neighbour
Creag Bhreac Mhor (225.7km)
Nearby Rows
None
Most Similar To
Higher Town Bay (1,185km) © Cheryl Straffon
Online Resources
Timeline
VISITED:- 5th June 2019 and 14th June 2019
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 13th February 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 7th July 2020
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 