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Orkney — News

After centuries of anectodes, prehistoric Orkney forest confirmed


The existence of a 6,500-year-old forest in Sanday has been confirmed.

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Death, burial and metalworking at Westray's Knowe o' Skea


An update on the 2004 excavations on this enigmatic Iron Age cemetery.

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Was Iron Age Orkney the centre of a vast north warrior province?


Iron Age Orkney was the centre of a vast province, ruled over by a chieftain who co-ordinated a massive programme of defensive brochs to counter a threat from the south. This is the conclusion of Shetland archivist Brian Smith.

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Divers confirm presence of two more Orkney crannogs


Orkney's first underwater archaeological investigation concludes two islets are definitely crannogs.

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New dig at site of Skaill Viking Hoard


The mound of Snusgar in Sandwick is the site of a new excavation focusing on the history of human settlement around the Bay o' Skaill.

See Orkneyjar for full details

Archaeologists' delight at Minehowe burial


A rare Iron Age burial is causing great excitement among the experts working at Minehowe — and as usual has raised more questions about life around the Iron Age site.

Archaeologists returned to the Tankerness site last week and by Monday had discovered a complete human skeleton buried in the floor of the metalworking structure outside Minehowe's circular ditch.

See Orkneyjar for full details

Exploratory dig confirms existence of Brodgar Neolithic village


Centuries-old conceptions about the Ness of Brodgar - the thin strip of land between the Harray and Stenness lochs - look set to be turned on their heads following a series of exploratory excavations on the south-west of the ness.

Last year's discovery of a structure half-way between the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness gave the first hint that ideas were going to have to change.

Full article here

Ongoing geophysics project continues to reveal secrets of Brodgar


The latest set of geophysics scans on the Ness o' Brodgar continue to shed light on the Ring o' Brodgar and the landscape around it - in particular another massive settlement discovered immediately to the north of the stone circle.

Full story at: http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/brodgargeophs2.htm

Heddle Quarry Decision Deferred


A decision on the application to extend works at the Heddle Quarry in Firth has been deferred.

Members at this morning's Orkney Islands Council planning committee meeting agreed to defer the decision for more detailed geological and environmental reports.

"Brogar" No More - and Farewell to "Maes Howe"


Historic Scotland are to start referring to two of Orkney's best known monuments by their rightful Orcadian names.

The government agency are to stop using the name "Ring of Brogar" when referring to the Ring o' Brodgar in Orkney's West Mainland.

In addition, they are to revert to the local one-word spelling of Maeshowe, doing away with the "Maes Howe" spelling that does not reflect the Orcadian pronunciation.

Full story on Orkneyjar

Tourists Declared "No Threat" to Maeshowe


Increasing visitor numbers is not having a detrimental effect on one of Orkney's top visitor attractions, according to initial findings.

State-of-the-art technology was brought in by Historic Scotland scientists concerned for the future of Maeshowe and Skara Brae.

The Orcadian revealed last year that detailed analysis was being carried out to discover whether the walls were moving and being eroded at both sites. Interim results for Maeshowe have suggested that visitor numbers are not a problem.

Full story on Orkneyjar

Broch of Borwick — Links

Orkneyjar - The Broch o' Borwick


Stone of Setter (Standing Stone / Menhir) — Links

Orkneyjar Monoliths - The Stone o' Setter


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