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The wonder of Skara Brae in Orkney

Skara Brae is one of the main tourist attractions on Orkney and it's easy to see why.  The name Skara Brae comes from the original Skerrabra which was used to name the mound the village was found in.  No one knows the original name of course.  What is known is that this preserved prehistoric village was discovered when a violent storm in 1850 dislodged the sand dunes that were covering the site.  It is a puzzle why the village was abandoned but it could be because of the sand dunes that gradually encroached on it and kept the site hidden for those thousands of years or they just could have moved on.  Nobody knows!  Its well preserved condition is helped by the fact that it is on a sparsely populated island as well.  Both Orkney and Shetland boast fabulous neolithic sites that elsewhere probably would have been destroyed centuries ago.  Skara Brae was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1999.  

It is estimated that this village was occupied from about 3100 BC to about 2600 BC. Yes, it predates the pyramids and Stonehenge.  

Okay enough history, let's go have a look!!! 



You can see Skara Brae's close proximity to the sea however it was originally beside a freshwater loch.  A lot of things change in five thousand years!  





When you first visit the site you see a mock-up of how they believe a home may have looked. 


Ten structures remain in Skara Brae. 







The huts were designed with what could be drains as well as stone dressers, beds, cupboards and tanks.  There are indications of side cells which could be toilets.  The roofs may have been supported by whalebone or driftwood rafters and could have been covered with hide, turf or straw.  And we think we are so darn smart!! 

The people who lived here were farmers who raised cattle, sheep, pigs and deer as well as fishing in the sea.  Leather working tools were found which leads to the belief that the residents here wore skins and fur. 









Skaill House was included in the Skara Brae admission and because of that it was worth a visit. 







This was my view waiting for the 8S bus back to Kirkwall.  Not too shabby.  

Skara Brae is definitely a "must-see" site on any trip to Orkney. Being a history buff I was quite overwhelmed at how well-preserved it is.  am so very glad I went. It's best to go first thing in the morning which I did or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds off the cruise ships or day trippers from the mainland.  














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