Posted on 12/20/2007 2:26:13 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The dig at the ancient dune-protected houses has now turned up an unexpected and impressive discovery dating to Neolithic times, archaeologists have announced following the conclusion of their work.
"A previously unknown Neolithic structure has been found that is very different from anything else known to exist at this remarkable site," explained Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland senior archaeologist.
"It was built using dressed stone and was clearly intended to look impressive from the outside. This marks it out from houses of the time, the exteriors of which tended to be created with function rather than looks in mind."
...The structure is about seven metres wide and even longer in length, but only part of it has so far been exposed. Excavations in the 1980s initially turned up a Neolithic building, but the nature of what was recently found has surprised the contracted team from EASE Archaeology. Further work will be carried out to discover more about what its function in the site might have been.
(Excerpt) Read more at 24hourmuseum.org.uk ...
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The stone in the middle looks like..My God, it’s full of stars.
Was it a carbon-neutral dwelling?
Probably the 19th Hole where Orkney Scots got together for some of their rare peat tasting holy water.
“So thir I was in the dunes, down by the wee barn, with me ball in some gorse...”
“Aye, Rob, ye’re always in the dunes.”
Birthplace of haggis.
This is where the Vikings 'jumped off' on the way to Iceland.
This is where the Vikings 'jumped off' on the way to Iceland.
That could cause elevated atmopheric methane.
Wow, they did it twice? ;’) The Shetlands were more in that category, probably; the Vikings colonized both.
Hmmmm. Maybe I got it mixed up, eh?
Well, islands tend to concentrate characteristics when compared with less isolated mainlands (Britain being an island, but a very large one, with a large population, so it’s “the mainland”). :’)
:’D
(finding a picture was a nice touch, CJ)
Dating from c.3100 – 2200BC, the best preserved sequence of Neolithic building developments is at Skara Brae, Orkney.
Skara Brae. Interesting view...looks as if part of the island was snapped off 'yesterday'
The largest and most extensive group of prehistoric cup-and-ring marked rock carvings in Scotland exists at Achnabreck in Argyll. Whist a variety of enigmatic concentric circles, alignments and other features are cut into three exposed rock outcrops the examples are representative of the first true form of stone art to be found in Scotland. Although no full understanding of what the purpose of this art form was, similarities can be identified in the overall form and plan shape of Broch sites some millennia later.
Orkney Petroglyph...something astronomical? (Saturn Myth, methinks.)
Could be me. My family was from the area and has a castle in John o’ Groats.
Thanks F!
Which means that in much warmer times, the structure was obviously a beach cabana and bar
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