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Pictures from Doug and Pat Ross on their trip to Scotland 2007
Skara Brae, Orkney |
Skara Brae is a World
Heritage site on the southern shore of Sandwick's Bay o' Skaill. These
remains of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village were discovered by the
laird, William Watt of Skaill, in 1850. Excavations took place until
1868 and they resumed in 1925, 1928 and 1930. Today, eight dwellings and
a reconstructed home may be viewed on the site. Visitors are invited to
take a small entrance into a typical Neolithic home, which has been
reconstructed at the beginning of the village site.
Visitors are invited to
take a small entrance into a typical Neolithic home, which has been
reconstructed at the beginning of the village site. The basic plan of
the living quarters included a dresser, grinding stone, hearth in
centre of floor, box beds, storage spaces set into the walls, and
fish-bait tanks.
"Wick" is the Norse
term for "bay". Sandwick has lived up to its name many times, since
the winds have covered this village with sand many times during its
history.
Not every home on this
archaeological site has been excavated. Due to the extreme weather
conditions in the Bay of Skaill, erosion is always a problem and one
measure of preservation involves leaving things intact.
Skaill House is worth a
visit, but photographs are not allowed inside. Tourists are led via a
one-way system around a series of public rooms . . . a dining room, a
study, a huge drawing room, Bishop Graham's bedroom, a gun room and
several exhibitions.
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