A traveller’s guide to ancient Orkney history

Orkney had a warmer, more pleasant climate then, the land was fertile, sea levels were rising and more people were moving around by boat from the British mainland, Ireland and Europe.

Farming would have developed over a few hundred years. Early farmers would have been incomers as they were growing barley and wheat and rearing non native sheep and cattle.

The new arrivals certainly left their mark. At the end of the Neolithic period there were no trees to speak of left on Orkney. Subsistence farming would have used a slash and burn technique to clear large areas of forestry for farming, gradually over time covering bigger areas, destroying more woodland.

Initially, wood was also used for shelter but as forests declined the farmers would have turned their minds to the old, red sandstone which is relatively soft and could be used for cutting out flagstones for building. This lack of wood is probably the most important factor in the stone legacy that has been left behind from this era.

Farming the land allowed people to set up permanent homes allowing possessions to accumulate. Communities got bigger as food could be grown and stored, the culture changed and people had time to develop other skills. Craftsmen, toolmakers and jewellery makers all had a part to play in the new age. Evidence of tool making, jewellery and pottery has all been discovered.

Seasonal changes would have become very important for cultivating the land and raising the animals. The wind and the tides would impact on both the farming and the ability for people to move around.The Neolithic can be broken into two main timescales, early Neolithic was in existence from around 3600BC to 3000BC and late Neolithic from around 3000BC to 2100BC mainly typified by building styles.

Earlier buildings tended to consist of two buildings side by side with adjoining passage. Burial chambers from this period were similar to those found in other parts of the country with the chambers separated like animal stocks.

Human remains tended to be whole and many burial chambers also contained bones of specific animals like in South Ronaldsay the Tomb of the Eagle and the Tomb of the Otter or red deer on Papay. Stone pottery discovered then is known as Unstan Ware and is characterised by its round bottom pots.

Papay or Papa Westray is the most northerly island of Orkney. As well as being a birdwatchers paradise it is also a beautiful place in early summer when the wild flowers of the machair are in full bloom. If you can tear yourself away from the flora, fauna and stunning beaches the Knap of Howar is worth a visit.

From the early Neolithic period around 3,500 BC, the Knap of Howar is the oldest stone building yet discovered on Orkney and one of the oldest in northern Europe. There are 2 structures joined by an adjacent passage, the larger one looking like the dwelling place with signs of hearth and recesses. Due to discovery of flints and stone tools, it is generally thought that the second building was a workshop.

The assembly of the building raises questions as to what was here before as the midden (or rubbish) from previous settlers was used to settle the stonework but no other evidence of a previous even earlier site has been discovered to date. Another big difference from later sites is that the buildings stand alone, later buildings tended to be communal.

Later buildings were characterised by one big room with a stone dresser opposite the entrance and a central hearth with bed recesses on either side, usually joined to other buildings with adjacent passages like those found in Skara Brae and Barnhouse.

Burial chambers were central chambers, accessed through long passageways with recesses on all 4 sides. Maeshowe chambered cairn is the classic example. These later chambers are unique to Orkney. Stoneware during this period was known as grooved ware and tended to have flat bottoms and an unusual design of triangles and diamond.

This culture developed and lasted for over a thousand years before gradually giving way to the Bronze Age. Developments throughout Britain and Europe were relatively slow to catch on in Orkney and it is thought that the religious cultures and practices of the Neolithic age hindered progress.

Want to Explore the Wonders of Orkney Up-close? Head over to our Orkney Islands walking tour page to discover more.