Editing Maeshowe (section)

==World Heritage status==
The "[[Heart of Neolithic Orkney]]" was listed as a World Heritage site in December&nbsp;1999. In addition to Maeshowe, the site includes [[Skara Brae]], the [[Standing Stones of Stenness]], the [[Ring of Brodgar]] and other nearby sites. It is managed by [[Historic Environment Scotland]], whose ''Statement of Significance'' for the site begins:
<blockquote>{{anchor|Historic-Scotland-Maeshowe-StmtSig-anchor}}
The monuments at the heart of Neolithic Orkney and Skara Brae proclaim the triumphs of the human spirit in early ages and isolated places. They were approximately contemporary with the mastabas of the archaic period of Egypt (first and second dynasties), the brick temples of Sumeria, and the first cities of the Harappa culture in India, and a century or two earlier than the Golden Age of China. Unusually fine for their early date, and with a remarkably rich survival of evidence, these sites stand as a visible symbol of the achievements of early peoples away from the traditional centres of civilisation ... Maes Howe is a masterpiece of Neolithic engineering. It is an exceptionally early architectural accomplishment. With its almost classical strength and simplicity it is a unique survival from 5000&nbsp;years ago. 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>
{{cite web
 |title=The Heart of Neolithic Orkney
 |website=Historic Scotland
 |url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/world_heritage_scotland/world_heritage_sites/world-heritage-neolithic-orkney.htm
 |access-date=5 September 2007
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824203938/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/policyandguidance/world_heritage_scotland/world_heritage_sites/world-heritage-neolithic-orkney.htm |archive-date=24 August 2007
}}
</ref>{{page needed|date=September 2021|reason=quotation requires a page number}}
</blockquote>