In 1850, a farmer discovered a hidden village. It was later determined to be older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Archaeologists estimated that around 100 people lived in this village, called Skara Brae, the "Scottish Pompeii." The houses were connected by tunnels, and each house could be sealed with a stone door.
It is an ancient site located on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Scotland, and to this day it remains a true mystery. Overlooking Skaill Bay, on Mainland Island, the largest of the small Orkney archipelago in the North Sea, once stood the Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae, a village made up of about ten houses that, according to archaeologists, was inhabited between 3100 and 2500 BC.
It then remained hidden for millennia and was discovered by chance in 1850, after a devastating storm, by William Watt, the owner of the estate under whose land it lay, who after the unexpected discovery decided to contact a local antiquarian named George Petrie.
Today, Skara Brae is located near the coast, but over 5,000 years ago it was much further inland. However, constant erosion over the centuries has considerably altered the landscape, leading to constantly changing interpretations of the site. The name of the site, Skara Brae, comes from the ancient name of the location, Skerrabra or Styerrabrae, which referred to the mound beneath which it was buried.
Finally, the interest Skara Brae had aroused among experts led to further excavations at the site, such as those undertaken by the antiquarian W. Balfour Stewart. Unfortunately, constant looting also forced the site to be protected. Therefore, in 1924, Skara Brae was placed under the protection of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Labour, and finally, in 1927, with the arrival of the renowned Australian archaeologist Vere Gordon Childe and his assistant, J. Wilson Paterson, the site was at last excavated and rigorously studied. One of the best-preserved Neolithic settlements in Europe was rescued from oblivion, although no new light was shed on its origins or its subsequent abandonment.
The excellent state of preservation of Skara Brae has sparked much speculation about its fate. In recent decades, excavations at the site have revealed that the simplest explanation is likely that its inhabitants abandoned the village in search of more fertile land. Currently, extensive documentation work is underway at the site, as there are concerns about the impact of rapid erosion of the Orkney Islands' coastline due to climate change on the ruins of Skara Brae. Researchers fear that rising sea levels will cause this valuable testament to a bygone era—a gift to humanity more than 150 years ago—to disappear forever.
Necklace of bones and teeth found at Skara Brae (collection of the Tankernges House Museum, Orkney).
Photo: Cordon Press
No comments:
Post a Comment