Dwarfie Stane: Scotland's Dark Mystical Isle of Hoy, Home To The Mysterious 5,000-Year-Old Rock-Cut Tomb
A particularly old and substantial block of red sandstone is known as the "Dwarfie Stane." There has been a mystery surrounding this 5,000-year-old brick up to this day.
There is no documentation of who built this enormous tomb, how they did it, or for what purpose or purposes.
The mysterious stone, known as the Dwarfie Stane, is thought to be the sole rock-cut tomb in Britain and is located in a narrow valley with steep sides between Quoys and Rackwick on the island of Hoy in Orkney, Scotland.
Between the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Period, most likely around 3,000 BC, the chamber was hollowed out. Based on similar graves found in the Mediterranean region, this estimate was made.
What makes this enormous slab so unique? Someone once hollowed out the "Dwarfie Stane" using only a few basic tools, persistence, and a lot of physical might.
The stone slab is up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) high and measures roughly 8.5 meters (28 feet) long by 4 meters (13 feet) wide. The west face of the stone had an entrance that was 1 meter (3.3 ft) square and went into the inner chamber.
Both "bed-places," which are oddly too little for someone of average height, are the subject of numerous folktales and legends about dwarfs, and these ancient tales are said to encircle the location.
Visitors once left gifts at the "Dwarfie Stane" as a sign of their appreciation. Why? Was the room intended for a monk or hermit who lived there by himself?
It is reported that the aperture was first sealed with a sizable slab of sandstone that was outside the opening. It's interesting to note that the enigmatic tomb was still covered up until the 16th century.
The strange stone slab has never been the subject of any archaeological dig, and we have no idea what, if anything, was discovered inside.
Yet, there is evidence of a hole that was likely an effort to break into the inside of the stone via the roof that was later covered with concrete.
An old Orcadian mythology claims that a giant and his wife created the Dwarfie Stane. The gigantic pair was imprisoned inside the stone by a third giant who desired to become the ruler of the island of Hoy.
His malicious schemes, however, were foiled when the giant who was being held captive was able to escape through the chamber's roof.