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UNSW scientists have shown -- for the first time -- that a series of high-profile burial sites in the Pacific, Mediterranean and northern Scotland were likely related to catastrophic tsunamis... Honorary Professor James Goff from the PANGEA Research Centre at UNSW Sydney, who co-authored the paper, says the research provides new insights into past human-environment interactions and a new perspective on past catastrophic events... The researchers looked at coastal mass burial sites in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as in Orkney and Shetland. The mass graves cover a long timeframe of human history -- they are from about...

Links include http://uphellyaa.com/ http://www.SHETLAND.org Also up Hella Aa means the end of the holidays and also represemts the retirn of the sun to the far north. Shetland’s annual Up Helly Aa fire festival is almost upon us and you can join in the celebrations online - the spectacular torchlit procession will be broadcast live tomorrow on uphellyaa.com. The live coverage will begin at 19.00 (GMT) and run through until 21.00, culminating with the dramatic burning of the replica Viking galley. You can support this live webcast by subscribing to our 60 North Magazine - a quarterly publication which covers stories...

Roman brooch find in Shetland extends ancient travel routes STEPHEN STEWART AMATEUR archaeologists may have found Britain's most northerly ancient Roman artefact, it emerged yesterday. The fibula, or brooch, which has been dated to between 50BC and 50AD, could have belonged to an islander returning to the area around Norwick on Shetland after serving in the Roman army. The archaeologists made the find when they were called in after bulldozers unearthed items while extending the graveyard at Norwick. It is highly unusual to find Roman goods so far north and the item gives a revealing insight into trade routes and...

A historic site's true purpose may have been revealed -- as an Iron Age boozer. Experts believe that 4600 years ago, thirsty natives may have been enjoying a pie and pint at Jarlshof in Shetland. ... And a dozen or so quernstones -- for grinding barley -- indicate it may have served as both a drinking den and a bakery. ... It contains remains dating from 2500 BC up to the 17th century. ... The building has a house next door which has a large souterrain -- which was the equivalent of a Iron Age refrigerator used for storing smoked...

The people of Jarlshof threw garbage into dumps from before 2500 BC but, although their waste was unwanted, their refuse has been anything but rubbish for archaeologists investigating their lives. We know that the Stone Age settlers lived in small circular stone houses, that they tilled crops, kept cattle and sheep, and harvested the sea for fish and whales, seals and shellfish. They also made tools - some finely decorated - from stone, pottery and bone... In the 19th century the site was visited by Sir Walter Scott who christened the ruined hall "Jarlshof", and the name has stuck since....

Oil-rich Shetland may consider becoming a self-governing territory like the Isle of Man rather than stay part of an independent Scotland in the event of a yes vote, the Scotland secretary, Alistair Carmichael, has said. In an interview with the Guardian, Carmichael said if Shetland were to vote strongly against independence but the Scottish national vote was narrowly in favour, then a "conversation about Shetland's position and the options that might be open to it" would begin.

The remains of what it is thought could be a member of early Pictish royalty have been discovered during an archaeological dig in Aberdeenshire. The discovery at Rhynie was made by teams from the universities of Aberdeen and Chester. The remains were found in a carefully made sandstone grave, which the experts believe suggests the person was of high status. It is the first time remains of a body have been uncovered at the site. Project leader Dr Gordon Noble, of the University of Aberdeen, said: "We found elements of the legs, pelvis and jaw bone which we recovered and...

LONDON (Reuters) - The owner of a tiny island in off Scotland declared its independence from the United Kingdom on Saturday, saying he wanted the territory, population one, to be a crown dependency like the Channel Islands. In a declaration on his Web site, Stuart Hill, who owns the 2.5 acre island of Forvik in the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, said he no longer recognised the authority of the government or the European Union, and cited a centuries-old royal marriage dowry deal as the basis for his claim. "Forvik owes no allegiance to any United Kingdom government, central...

A PICTISH stone found in Cunningsburgh has been described as the most important archaeological discovery in Shetland for 10 years. It was found in Mail cemetery by gravedigger Malcolm Smith, his second such find in 16 years The sculptured stone is inscribed with mysterious symbols and dates back to the dark ages. It is the ninth stone of its kind to be discovered in the same area in the last 130 years. Its significance has been high­lighted by Dr Ian Tait, collections curator at the Shetland Museum and Archives. “It is extremely exciting because it is a single find which...

Mystery ‘mound’ to be saved from the sea Gavin Morgan 26 January, 2008 ARCHAEOLOGISTS plan to save a fine example of a Bronze Age burnt mound from disappearing into the sea in a unique £70,000 removal operation on Shetland this coming summer. Historic Scotland has given permission for the site at Cruister, on Bressay, to be shifted to the islands’ heritage centre. The unprecedented project will see the prehistoric version of a water heater, a third of which has already been eroded by the sea, dismantled and rebuilt in fully functional order. Barbara Anderson, of Bressay Heritage Centre, said it...

Shetland jumper firms running short of knitters By Auslan Cramb (Filed: 13/02/2006) Knitwear companies in Shetland are having trouble fulfilling orders for their distinctive sweaters because their knitters are "a dying breed". Garments from Britain's most northerly islands are highly prized in Japan. But Doreen Brown, of Shetland Collection, the largest hand knitting company in the islands, said her firm had struggled to meet a large order for Japan. "We have two dozen knitters but they are a dying breed," she said. "Our oldest is 94 and the youngest is 60 and we can't get any more." Turnover in the...