Editing Maeshowe (section)

==Style==
The tomb gives its name to the Maeshowe type of Scottish chambered cairn, which is limited to Orkney.<ref>Ritchie (1981) p 22</ref> Maeshowe is very similar to the famous [[Newgrange]] tomb in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], suggesting a linkage between the two cultures.<ref>Laing (1974) p 42</ref> [[Chambered tomb]]s of the Maeshowe "type" are characterized by a long, low entrance passageway leading to a square or rectangular chamber from which there is access to a number of side cells. Although there are disagreements as to the attribution of tombs to tomb types, there are only seven definitely known Maeshowe-type tombs.<ref>Hedges (1984) p 80</ref> On [[Mainland, Orkney|Mainland]], there are, in addition to Maeshowe; the tombs of [[Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn|Cuween Hill]], [[Wideford Hill chambered cairn|Wideford Hill]], and [[Quanterness chambered cairn|Quanterness]]. The tomb of Quoyness is found on Sanday, while Vinquoy Hill is located on [[Eday]]. Finally, there is an unnamed tomb on the [[Holm of Papa|Holm of Papa Westray]]. [[Anna Ritchie (archaeologist)|Anna Ritchie]] reports that there are three more Maeshowe-type tombs in Orkney but she doesn't name or locate them.<ref>Ritchie (1995) p 47</ref>

According to the description herein, a [[Chamber tomb|chambered tomb]] is normally characterized by grave goods, which were found at Cuween Hill and the tomb on Holm of Papa Westray (see the paragraph above) but were not found at Maeshowe. Further, the description of a [[passage grave]] states:
: "Not all passage graves have been found to contain evidence of human remains. One such example is Maeshowe." In addition, the ''Statement of Significance'' ([[#Historic-Scotland-Maeshowe-StmtSig-anchor|quoted in § below]]) says, "It is an expression of genius within a group of people whose other tombs were claustrophobic chambers in smaller mounds."<ref name=Historic-Scotland-Maeshowe-StmtSig/>{{page needed|date=September 2021|reason=quotation requires a page number}}

A potential explanation for the extraordinary genius of Maeshowe engineering and the lack of human remains was described by Peter Tompkins in 1971, who compared the structure at "Maes-Howe" to the Great Pyramid<ref>Tompkins (1971) pp 130–133</ref> suggesting the site was used as an observatory, calendar, and for [[May Day]] ceremonies rather than as a tomb.

Tompkins extensively studied numerous documents related to the measurement and exploration of the Great Pyramid of Giza. He stated the central "observation chamber"<ref name=Tompkins-1971-p130>Tompkins p 130</ref> at Maeshowe was "corbeled like the Great Pyramid's Grand Gallery", was carefully leveled, plumbed", and the jointing is of a quality that "rivals that of the Great Pyramid". Rather than chambers of a tomb, Tompkins suggested the structure contained small "retiring rooms for the observers".<ref name=Tompkins-1971-p130/> He suggested the entrance was very similar to Egyptian pyramids in that it had a "54&nbsp;foot observation passage aimed like a telescope at a megalithic stone [2772&nbsp;feet away] to indicate the summer solstice" (p.&nbsp;130) in addition to its "Watchstone" to the West that indicated the equinoxes. The "sighting passage"<ref name=Tompkins-1971-p133>Tompkins (1971) p 133</ref> points to a northern star like the pyramids of Saqqara, Dashur and Medûm. Tompkins stated that "The similarity [of the pyramids] to the structure at Maes-Howe is indeed amazing".<ref name=Tompkins-1971-p133/> He cited Professor [[Alexander Thom]], former Chair of Engineering Science at Oxford, as writing about the geometry of construction and astronomical alignment of Maeshowe in this context in 1967.<ref>Tompkins (1971) pp 137–138</ref>

Tompkins, citing Thom{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} and others, described in detail how Maeshowe, Silbury Hill<ref>Tompkins (1971) p 128</ref> and other ancient mounds and Neolithic megaliths across Britain served as extremely accurate observatories, calendars, and straight-line beacons for travelers, as well as how they were used ceremonially in [[May Day]] celebrations more than 4,000&nbsp;years ago.