Skara Brae Orkney 7 Facts About Scotland’s Neolithic Village
Na'ím Paymán
Apr 24, 2024
Skara Brae Orkney: A Neolithic Village on the Orkney Islands
Skara Brae Orkney is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the west coast of Mainland Orkney.
Often described as the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in northern Europe, Skara Brae on Orkney offers rare insight into daily life over 5,000 years ago.
From its remarkably preserved stone structures to the mysteries surrounding its abandonment, Skara Brae continues to intrigue archaeologists and visitors alike. Skara Brae is a very good example of a Neolithic settlement. It is a famous site in Britain and one of the main tourist attractions in the Orkney Islands. Read on to learn 7 interesting facts about Skara Brae and its history.
1. Skara Brae was a stone village.
Skara Brae is one of the best preserved stone villages across the UK and Europe. Its stone houses, connected by passageways and featuring stone furnishings, reflect the ingenuity and craftsmanship of its ancient inhabitants.
Before the village was deserted, around eight huts remained, which were connected through paved alleyways. Each house in Skara Brae had one room, with a size of around 40 square metres.
One structure at the end of the village doesn’t have a box bed but contains a special hearth. This is believed to be a place of worship.
Archaeologists believe this building may have served as a communal or ceremonial space, highlighting the spiritual life of Skara Brae’s inhabitants.
2. Many of the walls and structures have survived to this day.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Skara Brae is the extent of its preservation. Despite millennia of exposure to the elements, many of the village's walls and structures have survived largely intact. Some of the ordinary furniture of Neolithic people, like dressers and box-beds, has also survived in these stone houses.
The reason why the buildings and furniture were made of stone was because of the lack of trees on the islands. This also accounts for the preservation of many of the walls and structures. Among the most important artefacts found in Skara Brae are: gaming dice, tools, pottery, different jewellery, and carved stone objects.
Stone dressers placed opposite the entrances are thought to have been used to display valued objects, showing early ideas of status and organisation within Skara Brae Scotland.
3. Skara Brae is older than the Egyptian Pyramids.
While the pyramids of Egypt are often celebrated as marvels of ancient engineering, Skara Brae offers a glimpse into a much earlier chapter of human history. Skara Brae is older than the Egyptian pyramids and even Stonehenge. Data shows that it was a settlement populated from 3200 to 2200 BCE.
In spite of the age of Skara Brae, there are a lot of signs that testify to the innovation and creativity of the settlers. For instance, the doors feature locks to keep the house secure, and advanced materials were made to keep out the damp.
This makes Skara Brae on Orkney one of the earliest examples of planned domestic architecture in Europe.
4. The inhabitants of Skara Brae were a peaceful community.
The ancient inhabitants of Skara Brae probably led a peaceful life away from wars and conflicts. The reason for this assumption is that there were no weapons found among the excavations.
The layout of the village, with its interconnected houses and shared amenities, indicates a cooperative and communal way of life. The closeness of the houses also suggests a sense of family and togetherness among the inhabitants. It confirms that the ancient dwellers of Skara Brae cherished their community and put a lot of emphasis on it.
The lack of defensive structures further supports the idea that Skara Brae Scotland was a stable and socially cohesive settlement.
5. The inhabitants were farmers as well as fishermen and hunters.
Life in Skara Brae revolved around subsistence activities such as farming, fishing, and hunting. The ancient people living in the village had flesh as their main source of food. They also used their cattle and sheep for milk. Sometimes, they would eat shellfish and limpets as well.
The inhabitants of Skara Brae were more than just simple hunters and fishermen. The findings show that they were skilled farmers too, growing wheat and barley and tending to sheep and cattle as well.
Recent studies also suggest that driftwood and whale bone were used for tools and roofing, adapting to the limited natural resources of the Orkney Islands.
6. Skara Brae was rediscovered in 1850.
For hundreds of years, this village was hidden under sand dunes. A severe sandstorm in the winter of 1850 revealed some stone houses and an underground network of pathways. After that, archaeologists started working to uncover the mystery of this place.
The discovery captured the imagination of archaeologists and historians, sparking renewed interest in Scotland's prehistoric past. William Watt conducted the first round of excavations in the 1860s, when parts of the buildings were exposed by the storm.
Further excavations throughout the 20th century improved understanding of daily life at Skara Brae Orkney Islands and helped protect the site from coastal erosion.
7. There are different theories about why Skara Brae was abandoned.
The reasons why the dwellers of the village left it around 2500 BCE is up to debate. Some suggest environmental factors such as coastal erosion or climate change may have played a role, while others point to social or economic pressures.
Some say it was because of a sandstorm, and they left it immediately. Others are of the belief that it was more a case of gradual emigration. The likely reason was better prospects for life in some other regions with better conditions for life and work.
Most modern researchers believe abandonment was gradual, influenced by changing climate conditions and increasing exposure to the sea.
Visiting Skara Brae Scotland and Staying Nearby
After a visit to Skara Brae and experiencing these amazing facts about it up close, you will need a place to stay the night. From Skara Brae to Stromness, it is only 12 kilometres, and you may choose to take a taxi or drive yourself. At The Stromness Hotel, you will have everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay.
Skara Brae on Orkney is open year-round, with visitor facilities including an interpretation centre that explains Neolithic life in detail.
Na'ím Paymán
DirectorNa'ím set up Paymán Club in 2015 to provide comfortable accommodation for tourists and business travellers across the UK and further afield.
