Images

Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by carol27

A Glimpse down into the ancient sewers constructed before the town was laid out – thus one of the earliest examples of ‘town planning’.

Image credit: Carol27
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by A R Cane

The beautiful backdrop of The Bay of Skaill, which was probably also responsible for covering the settlement in sand thousands of years ago.

Image credit: A R Cane
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Vicster

Vicky and Helena by the dresser in the reconstructed house at Skara Brae – this gives some perspective to the possible sizes of the houses including roof.

Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Vicster

Bedtime at Skara Brae! They have built a pretty good reconstruction of the one of the houses (complete with roof and walls) which gives visitors the chance to get inside and see things close up. Not quite the real thing but as close as you can get, these days.

Sept 2009

Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Moth

House 9 – note beds recessed into the midden walls denoting it as an earlier design (it’s also on a lower level)

Image credit: Tim Clark
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Moth

House 2 (I think – the names aren’t exactly memorable) showing how close the subsidence/erosion of the coast got to the village

Image credit: Tim Clark
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by notjamesbond

A very interesting site to visit (if a little expensive) we visited Skara Brae during a trip to Orkney in 2001. The day we chose to visit was wet and very windy. A storm was brewing and the sea next to the settlement was wipping up into a frenzy. The thought crossed our minds that it would have been a very similar storm that uncovered the site in the first place.

Image credit: notjamesbond
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Kammer

Taken August 1997: This is ‘House 4’ which is part of the new village. It has a cubby hole set into it’s back wall and what appears to be a recessed dresser.

There’s a sparrow perching on the tall stone to the left (not an authentic Neolithic sparrow though).

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Kammer

Taken August 1997: On the left of this shot is ‘House 9’ and to the right is ‘House 10’, both part of the old village (peeking out from underneath the ‘new’ village).

As with the older houses there is a square hearth in the middle of House 9 (filled with darker sand). The beds (in the foreground and on the opposite side of the house) are set into the walls, which differs from the design of the newer houses where the beds project out into the room.

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by Kammer

Taken August 1997: This is the imaginatively named ‘House 1’ with the Bay of Skaill in the background.

The ‘dresser’ is pretty obvious in this shot, but you can also make out three small stone tanks around it, thought to be used for preparing fish bait. Directly in front of the dresser is a stone seat, and the square area in the centre of the house (with dark sand in it) is the hearth.

Image credit: Simon Marshall
Image of Skara Brae (Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork) by moey

Fantastic to think that if it weren’t for a great storm, we might never have known about Skara Brae.

Another great Storm trashed our tent – but that’s another story (one we’ll talk about for years to come – me & my friend)

Articles

Skara Brae Sea Wall Set For Work.

Work to strengthen the foundations of the sea wall near the famous Neolithic village of Skara Brae in Orkney is about to begin.

Waves have affected a section of concrete on which the protective walling was built, which could lead to more damage.

Historic Scotland has started a project which will involve digging down to insert new reinforcements.

It is described as important and highly-skilled work.

Stephen Watt, Historic Scotland district architect, said: “The area affected is a bit beyond Skara Brae itself, but it is important because it stops the sea outflanking us.

“These are interim measures which help protect an enormously important part of Scotland’s heritage.

“We are currently working with a number of other groups and organisations to put together a strategy to protect the entire bay from the effects of natural erosion.”

The settlement was inhabited 5,000 years ago.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7840463.stm

Skara Brae site graffiti removed

Experts have successfully removed all traces of graffiti which had been daubed onto the ancient Skara Brae settlement on Orkney.

Poultices made up of a solvent and paper pulp were applied to the graffiti and left to take effect.

This removed much of the marker, but two further poultices with a different combination of solvents were then added to remove the remaining residue.

Story here

New suspect in Skara Brae enquiry.

Police searching for vandals who scrawled graffiti at the site of the ancient Skara Brae settlement are now looking for a 35-year-old man.

The man, who might speak with a Liverpudlian accent, is said to be 5ft 6 in, of medium build with fair hair.

He may be using the name Brian Finlay and make conversation about the Celts, police on Orkney added.

Staff found the graffiti daubed on the 5,000-year-old site – including the words “Scouse Celts” – on Tuesday.

Monument managers said vandals had entered one of the houses at the site and drawn a smiley face, their name and the date with black marker pen, defacing both the dresser and one of the bed posts.

It was initially thought that the vandalism may have been carried out by tourists travelling round the island in a silver people carrier.

However, police ruled the group out of their inquiries after questioning the vehicle’s occupants earlier.

The man they are now looking for is believed to be sleeping rough on Orkney and has a backpack with him.

Historic Scotland, which is responsible for the upkeep of the world heritage site, said that it was liaising with its conservation centre in Edinburgh to find the best way of removing the graffiti as soon as possible.

“Graffiti removal on buildings of historical or architectural importance needs to be handled sensitively,” said a spokeswoman.

“The careful process needs to ensure any long-term damage caused by the graffiti is kept to a minimum and the stone itself is not further damaged as part of the graffiti removal process.

“Our visitors have reacted with surprise and sympathy to the damage caused.”

The cost – which is expected to be substantial – is not yet known.

Skara Brae was first discovered following a major storm in 1850, which battered the island to such an extent that an outline of a series of stone buildings was revealed.

A series of excavations was carried out over the next century, finally revealing eight stone dwellings which were originally believed to be an Iron Age settlement.

However, in the 1970s radiocarbon dating showed that the village was originally built between 3200 and 2200 BC.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6951100.stm

Graffiti daubed at historic site

from BBC NEWS

Vandals have daubed graffiti on one of Scotland’s most historic sites in Orkney.

Staff at Skara Brae arrived at work on Tuesday to find graffiti scribbled on the walls of the Neolithic village.

The site brings in thousands of visitors every year and is one of Orkney’s most iconic tourist attractions.

Police are keen to trace a group of visitors who are believed to have been travelling in a silver Hyundai.

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Arousing Discovery About Skara Brae Design

A 5,000-year-old symbol from the Neolithic village of Skara Brae has been singled out by researchers as a potent symbol of arousal in men.

According to an article in The Scotsman newspaper, following random testing of males in different parts of the country, galvanic skin responses showed arousal when they saw designs based on ancient fertility symbols. Skara Brae’s “lozenge” symbol was singled out by the researchers as the most potent of all the designs used.

The symbol is found scratched close to where female bones were found buried under the doorway of one of the huts.

The survey has led to a reappraisal of jewellery market research, with new pieces now being designed in response to the unconscious signals being transmitted by the test subjects.

Source: The Scotsman

Crack Fears for Skara Brae Stones

From BBCi

An investigation has been launched into concerns that increased visitor numbers may be damaging the Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney.

The heritage agency, Historic Scotland, has brought in state-of-the-art technology to determine whether stones are moving or developing cracks.

Read full article

Heritage Body May Have to Slash Visitor Numbers to Skara Brae

By Ian Johnston of the Scotsman:

The number of visitors to Skara Brae on Orkney – one of the world’s leading Stone Age attractions – may have to be cut amid fears they are damaging the monument, Historic Scotland has admitted.

The heritage agency has launched an investigation to discover whether the thousands of people who visit the ancient village each year are causing serious damage to the walls of the unique dwellings.

Every year up to 55,000 tourists explore the site, which dates back to 3200BC, but numbers may now have to be limited to help preserve the buildings.

A chambered burial cairn known as Maeshowe is also being examined for potential damage as part of the study.

Skara Brae

Very sterile feeling. A human conveyor belt of tourists coming and going. I was invited down in there after a long chat with the archaeologist stationed there.

Felt like Stonehenge and Mae’s Howe. Though I did manage to have it to myself for 10 minutes by hanging around all day.

I wouldn’t go again. The Barnhouse settlement 100 metres from The Stones of Stennes if far worthier a visit imo. And doesnt cost £9.

You can get a free look from a small ssection of fence by the entrance. Pretty crap though.

Theres a gate to the right of the entrance, right by the sea front fence. It’s a right of way so you’re allowed through it. You get a better free view this way. Just mention it’s a row and the ticket masters will back off. I wasted £9.

The reconstructed house is definitely worth a look though.

Skara Brae

Visited 6.6.12

For a change we all visited this very important site.

I had been nagging Karen for a long time that she simply ‘must’ see Skara Brae.

I think the fact there was a visitor centre with shop and café helped!

(Although these facts did little for my bank balance!)

It goes without say that this is a definite ‘must see’ when visiting Orkney.

I had read so much about it, seen so many photos and heard so much about Skara Brae that it was quite surreal actually being here.

We parked in the large car park (several coaches already here) and walked up to the visitor centre.

As members of CADW we had free entry although I did buy the guide book – something I do at all the places I visit. We first went to watch the film show which I thought was a bit naff and then went outside to see the reconstructed house you can walk around. I thought this was very well done and certainly gives a good idea of how it must have been to live at Skara Brae all those years ago.

We then headed over to the real houses. Luckily the rain had now stopped but it was very windy. The stones you pass giving a time-line for the settlement is a nice touch.

There were a number of people milling around and all were being watched by a member of staff to make sure no-one went inside the houses – although there would be no-one to stop you if you visited after closing time!

I won’t bother to describe the houses as this has been done many times before and I am sure everyone knows what they look like!

All I would reiterate is that the site IS a lot smaller than it looks in photos / on TV.

I originally planned to have a paddle in Skaill Bay but given the weather I chickened out!

Skara Brae

I feel like a bit of an old grump saying this but Skara Brae left me feeling a bit disappointed. My favourite part of it was the re-constructed house, which has been built with care and attention and you are allowed to go in and have a wee play.....but the site itself? I think I have just read too many books and seen too many programmes about it but it just didn’t have the expected “wow” feeling. I know that Jane and Hob both suggested going after hours, which would probably have helped, but the officious little signs everywhere and the HS woman having a hissy fit because one of us dared to lean over a bit of grass (grass, for gawd’s sake!) to get a photo just felt really rubbish. I only hung around for a few minutes then headed back up to the visitor centre to read a bit of George Mackay Brown and have a cuppa. Isn’t that awful? This is such an amazing site that I should have been awestruck but I was more impressed with Barnhouse – it isn’t the site itself but the way it is managed and I think I probably expected too much. I have since told myself off for being such a grumpy bugger and wish I had been a bit more interested in it all but it just didn’t grab me on the day. Bah – and indeed – humbug.

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Skara Brae

Would you believe such a thing as Skara Brae existed if it wasn’t here before you? I mean, ‘flushing toilets’, damp-course for the walls, and – best of all – a mighty mantelpiece for the women to place their best ornaments and whatnot on, so as to impress the neighbours over for tea. (sorry if that sounds sexist...) It’s just so, well..... civilised... so like 21st century us. Are we really that different?

I was taught that it was the Romans who brought these things to ‘barbarian’ Britain. Seeing as they only gave up human sacrifice when forced to by ‘barbarians’, me-thinks history was written by the victors to suit their own ends. Wouldn’t be the first time, would it?

Shame the traveller can’t actually enter the dwellings, but fully understand why. What a place! Even the usually dreaded ‘visitor centre’ was good.

Skara Brae

Hob and Jacqui hadn’t been here and were going home next day. They didn’t have a car with them. We did. It was past 6.30 and it would probably be closed. But we went just on the off-chance. We got lucky AGAIN.

Avoid the commercialism. If you’re not bothered about buying postcards and want to have the place to yourself, do as we did and go after the visitor centre is closed at 6.30. Park in the empty car park. Walk round the side of the visitor centre towards the beach on the deserted grassy path. Follow the ‘time line’. Pay no fee. The four of us had the place to wander through, consider and be amazed at without coach parties or tour guides; the time to stare and wonder and think and imagine. Moth and I returned next day at the same time and with guide book in hand made our own tour.

Skara Brae was first place on Orkney where I got a real sense of the LIFE (rather than the death) of neolithic Orcadians. It was easy to imagine people living here: hear the low rumble of their voices, smell their dinner cooking, bump your head on the fish drying on racks over the fire, feel the smoke stinging your eyes, smell the damp sheepskins, hear a child crying for her mum from the warmth of her little stone slatted bedstead...

The people who lived here were no different from us. Their dreams and aspirations were precisely the same as ours: to feed, raise and love our families as comfortably as possible. You can be very close to them here.

Absolutely enchanting and unmissable.

Skara Brae

Happily, Skara Brae can be visited after the visitor centre has closed, so you can have it to yourself, and peruse at leisure.

The glass roof over one of the houses detracts somewhat, but the others are pretty well preserved too, so it’s not that big a deal.

Keep eyes peeles for the carvings, covered by sheets of perspex.

If you’ve a leaning towards gratuitous pondering, also keep an eye out for the suspicious looking stone lying prone between the village and the visitor centre, just inland of the path.

Skara Brae

Visited August 1997: I was impressed by Skara Brae, but I still can’t help comparing it to the Knap of Howar on Papa Westray. Skara Brae is definitely more complex, better preserved, bigger and more accessible than the Knap of Howar, but it’s also blighted by lots of tourists and (albeit on a small scale) the dreaded visitor’s centre syndrome.

You are directed around a specific route at Skara Brae. This doesn’t take you into any of the houses, so you are always looking down into them (a bit artificial given that there was a roof there once). At the Knap of Howar you can walk into the houses and take a seat. The Knap of Howar is the oldest known inhabited structure in northern Europe, and you can have a picnic in it, while at Skara Brae you get to see some bits through protective glass (I can see that this is necessary, but it still spoils things a bit).

I’m glad we went to Skara Brae, because it is something very special. Worth it if only for the Maes Howe T-shirt I bought in the shop (just kidding).

Skara Brae

Skara Brae, Orkney Mainland

Monday 12/8/96

The next stop after the Ring of Brodgar was Skara Brae. Of all the places we explored today this was Kats fav. I thought it was v good too- nice wee hooses! I wondered why the Ring of Brodgar was so quiet today- that’s cos all the folk were here- busy busy busy! Still- didn’t spoil it at all. The interior of the houses are amazing- stone dressers, stone cupboards, stone boxes, stone beds- it doesn’t seem like they slummed it here! What was also cool was being able to walk through the houses and through the low corridors connecting the various living quarters. There’s also a small hut with an exhibition in it displaying many of the finds from the site which is cool- better than being stuck in some dusty old museum hundreds of miles away.

Skara Brae

I visited this amazing place on a bitter January day last year and was surprised but pleased to be the only visitor.

I had been inspired to visit by an enthusiatic Icelandic history teacher many years before, but, being prone to sea sickness, had never quite mustered up the courage to take the ferry from the mainland. Having finally made it, I can only say “you must visit this place!” It’s an awe inspiring glimpse at what our ancestors were capable of and it shattered many illusions I had held about my pre-Common Era predecessors being “primitive”.

When I compare the architecture of Skara Brae, which has withstood thousands of years of fearsome Orkney weather with the modern cement and plastic skyrises that purportedly represent the pinnacle of our city dwelling civilisation, I can only laugh. In two hundred years, these modern day megaliths will be crumbling and close to collapse (if they haven’t met the wrecking ball already). The builders and craftsmen of ancient Orkney really knew how to make their work last. You only need look at the perfectly hewn, carefully fitted stone masonry to see it. Not only that, but they knew how to landscape their homes to compliment the intense natural beauty which surrounded them. Form and function working together, six thousand years before the concept was invented!

The site is well thought out and constructed, allowing the visitor to get really close to the warren like village and to get a real feel of what it was like to live there.

Afterwards, I recommend a walk along the headland to Yesnaby cliffs to get a feel for the incredible natural architecture and geology of the area.

Living in China now, my friends are always boasting of their six thousand year old civilisation. After visiting Skara Brae, I can confidently make the same claim.

Miscellaneous

Skara Brae
Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork

In his eighth Munro lecture Gordon Childe “discussed the so-called inscription found on the edge of the bed in hut 7, but despite the presence of a burial under the bed, he now doubted whether it was really epigraphic.”

Miscellaneous

Skara Brae
Ancient Village / Settlement / Misc. Earthwork

This is the poem featured on the cafe wall, inside the visitor’s centre. I love it!

Skara Brae by George Mackay Brown

Here in our village in the west

We are little regarded.

The lords of tilth and loch

Are Quarrying (we hear)

Great stones to make a stone circle

In the last of the snow

A great one died

In that stone hollow in the east.

A winter sunset

Will touch his mouth. He carries

A cairngorm on his cold finger

To the country of the dead.

They come here from Birsay

To take our fish for taxes. Otherwise

We are left in peace

With our small fires and pots.

Will it be a morning for fishermen?

The sun died in red flames

Then the night swarmed with stars, like fish.

The sea gives and takes. The sea

Devoured four houses one winter.

Ask the old one to make a clay lamp

The ripening sun

May be pleased with the small flame, at-plough-time.

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Sites within 20km of Skara Brae