Prehistoric finds on remote St Kilda's Boreray isle (Scotland)

BBC ^ | June 16, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

The remains of a permanent settlement which could date back to the Iron Age has been uncovered on a remote Scottish island, according to archaeologists.

It was previously thought Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago was only visited by islanders to hunt seabirds and gather wool from sheep.

Archaeologists have now recorded an extensive agricultural field system and terraces for cultivating crops.

They have also found an intact stone building buried under soil and turf.

St Kilda's group of small islands are the remotest part of the British Isles, lying 41 miles (66km) west of the Western Isles.

Hirta, the main island of St Kilda, was occupied until 1930 when the last islanders left after they asked to be evacuated because their way of life was no longer sustainable.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said simple tools found on Hirta suggested Bronze Age travellers may have visited St Kilda 4,000 to 5,000 years ago from the Western Isles before people settled at an unknown date.

[decimon]

Hirta stay ping.

[Ciexyz]

What an interesting place for a visit.

[decimon]

St. Kildans sitting on the village street, 1886.

[decimon]

What an interesting place for a visit.

I'd make that in July.

[MadMitch]

What an interesting place for a visit.
I’d make that in July.

Even in July you will need warm waterproof clothing.

[SunkenCiv]

· GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach · · join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Antiquity Journal  & archive  Archaeologica  Archaeology  Archaeology Channel  BAR  Bronze Age Forum  Discover  Dogpile  Eurekalert  Google  LiveScience  Mirabilis.ca  Nat Geographic  PhysOrg  Science Daily  Science News  Texas AM  Yahoo  Excerpt, or Link only?	Thanks decimon. They have to move fast, because these prehistoric remains will vanish for another hundred years. /wth To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.
· History topic · history keyword · archaeology keyword · paleontology keyword · · Science topic · science keyword · Books/Literature topic · pages keyword ·

[Renfield]

"Even in July you will need warm waterproof clothing."

No kidding. I spent a summer in Scotland years ago, and though surely I'd freeze to death.

[colorado tanker]

Some fascinating information on St. Kilda on a National Trust website, which now owns the island.

http://www.kilda.org.uk/

The place was evacuated in 1930 at the request of the few remaining St. Kildan's as young people left and their subsistence way of life was breaking down.

One interesting piece of trivia concerns the case of Lady Grange. After bearing nine children she became enraged at an affair by her husband. She threatened to expose him as a treasonous Jacobite. He had her kidnapped and held in captivity the rest of her life in the Western Isles. She spent a miserable year in a hovel on St. Kilda.

[SunkenCiv]

BTW, there's something I've been meaning to do:

---

Thanks to FReeper sionnsar for the many pings! Wish you were here to see this one.

---

Pipes and Drums of FreeRepublic ping!

This is an ultra-low-volume ping list (typically weeks to months between pings, for matters related to Highland bagpipes and Scotland).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.

Going to the Games? Organize a Clan FReeper get-together!

---

All others: Please note that sionnsar has passed into the next life.

---

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks colorado tanker.