Knowe of Queen o Howe

The Knowe of Queen o’ Howe is one of Orkney’s lesser-known but fascinating archaeological sites on the Mainland. It is a burial mound or tumulus that dates back to the Bronze Age. The Orkney Islands are renowned for their rich prehistoric and Norse heritage, with sites like Skara Brae, The Ring of Brodgar, and the Stones of Stenness capturing much of the attention. However, smaller sites like the Knowe of Queen o’ Howe offer equally compelling insights into the lives and beliefs of those who once inhabited these islands.

The Knowe of Queen o’ Howe is a burial mound, a common practice in the Bronze Age for commemorating the dead. These mounds often covered individual graves or sometimes multiple burials, serving as a memorial and a marker of territory or significant landscapes.
Like many ancient sites in Orkney, the Knowe of Queen o’ Howe is situated in a rural setting that can offer visitors a sense of the landscape’s history and continuity.

The Knowe of Queen o’ Howe is part of Orkney’s broader prehistoric landscape, a testament to the archipelago’s significance during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods.

While the Knowe of Queen o’ Howe might not command the same immediate recognition as Orkney’s stone circles or Neolithic villages, it is a poignant reminder of the island’s deep history. Sites like these enrich our understanding of ancient lives and beliefs, offering quiet but profound connections to our shared human past. Anyone visiting Orkney who is interested in archaeology and history should take advantage of the opportunity to explore this site.