Monday, September 21, 2009

Skara Brae

In the 1850s, a huge North Atlantic storm blew away several feet of beach and 
upland on the west coast of Orkney's main island and revealed the best instance 
there is of a preserved neolithic village, now reckoned to be some 6,000 years 
old. It has been excavated, analyzed, written about, and exhibited. There is a 
fine museum/visitor center and a "replica" of the most famous room to enter 
and touch things, ground level. If you're into prehistory, it's one of those things 
you have always read about....  Above, an overview; the roofs (presumably 
thatched) are gone now but reveal floorplans, hearth, stone furniture, 
implements, etc.









Classic living area, note stone beds, stone storage/display area











Somewhat different floor plan

All the rooms connected to the larger work/commons area

Grain grinding apparatus; Skara Brae was inhabited for about 600 years, then 
abandoned

No comments: