Unstan Cairn

One of the best known Orcadian tombs is Unstan in Stenness .

The chamber of five compartments is of average length, but is covered by a round cairn. The passage enters the long side of the chamber thus allowing two end compartments both of which have had shelves, and a kerb across their entries. Another feature to note is a cell accessible from the opposite side of the chamber to the passage. The cell is entered between a pair of low portal stones, it has a back-slab but dry-built walls, and is roofed by a capstone at a height of only 1.26 m.

When the tomb was excavated last century the finds included fragments of distinctive shallow bowls with decorated collars . Such shallow bowls are now known as Unstan Ware.