Littlestone wrote:
Very illuminating HD, thank you. Obviously you have a more enlightened approach to teaching archaeology and pre-history to youngsters north of the boarder than we have south of it.
No-one is "taught" archaeology in schools here in Scotland (at least none that I am aware of). But archaeology's role in the discovery/ excavation of Skara Brae (and other examples too) is explained within the context of the History curriculum. Topics from the more recent Historical Period are more focussed on Politics, Wars etc and have no archaeological references really (though there is a little in The Voyages of Discovery/ Americas).
Perhaps we are lucky to have such an iconic example in Skara Brae as it ticks so many boxes with Prehistory, houses, settlement, tools, diet, beautiful objects etc. Kids love the topic, they get to do lots of making posters, presentations and drawings as part of it... plus Maes Howe is linked to it. The Midwinter light penetration up her chamber kinda fries their young minds nicely.
