Description

The monument is a souterrain and the ancient structures in an area immediately around it. Although the latter may be part of a much larger settlement mound, the scheduling is intended to protect the souterrain and the structures physically closest to it rather than whole potential area of settlement, the full extent of which is unknown.

The Rennibister souterrain has a passage about 3.5m long, at the inner end of which there was a drop of about 0.7m to the floor of a chamber which is roughly hexagonal in plan and measures over 3.3m in length by just over 2.5m in greatest width. The walls are constructed partly of slabs on edge and partly of built masonry and the roofing slabs are supported by four pillars.

The chamber contained the disarticulated skeletons of what may have been two or three family groups when it was discovered in 1926. It is near the top of an extensive low mound on the flanks of which are the modern buildings of Rennibister farm. The scheduling is, outwith the fenced area round the souterrain, explicitly restricted to the sub-surface remains, with the intention that the farm road may be resurfaced without constraint.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in plan measuring a maximum of 25m N-S by 22m E-W. Its west side is in part defined by the outer edge of, but excludes, the wall of the farm buildings N of the farmhouse, and also excludes the modern surface of the farm road to a depth of 30cm or the top of the stonework of the souterrain, whichever is the lesser. The scheduled area is outlined in red on the accompanying map extract.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is a well preserved souterrain in which the skeletons of two or three families were found. It is in the care of Scottish Ministers. It is of national importance as a fine example of an enigmatic class of structure conventionally dated to the first few centuries AD or BC.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as HY 31 SE 3.

References:

Childe, V. G. and Simpson, W. D. (1961) Illustrated guide to ancient monuments in the ownership or guardianship of The Ministry of Works: vi: Scotland, Edinburgh, 108.

Marwick, H. (1975) Scotland: an archaeological guide: from the earliest times to the twelfth century, London, 238.

Marwick, H. (1952) Ancient monuments in Orkney, [Edinburgh] 21.

RCAHMS (1946) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Twelfth report with an inventory of the ancient monuments of Orkney and Shetland, 3v. Edinburgh, 93-4, No. 325.
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Rennibister Earth House
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Source: Historic Environment Scotland