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Skara Brae

Heritage Site in Orkney

Scotland

Skara Brae

Skara Brae - 1979 Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3180 BC–2500 BC. Europe's most complete Neolithic village, Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites comprising "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney." Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it has been called the "Scottish Pompeii" because of its excellent preservation.
Skara Brae - 1979 Credit: Helmut Zozmann

Skara Brae is a Neolithic settlement located on the Bay of Skaill, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered one of the most well-preserved and complete Neolithic villages in Europe. The settlement dates back to around 3100 BCE and was inhabited for about 600 years, until approximately 2500 BCE.

The village consists of eight stone houses, which were built using a technique known as stone slabs. These houses are interconnected by a series of covered passages, giving the settlement a unique sense of community. The stone walls of the houses, which are up to six feet high, have provided remarkable protection against the harsh weather conditions over the centuries.

Each house in Skara Brae consists of a central hearth, stone furniture, storage alcoves, and even a stone dresser. The village also includes a workshop, where tools and items for daily use were crafted. This suggests that the inhabitants of Skara Brae were skilled craftsmen.

The discovery of various artifacts, such as pottery, jewelry, and tools, shed light on the daily life of the Neolithic people who called Skara Brae home. The village's location, near the sea, indicates that fishing was a crucial part of their subsistence, alongside farming and animal husbandry.

Skara Brae was uncovered in 1850 after a severe storm exposed the remains. The site was then excavated and preserved, allowing visitors to experience a snapshot of life from over 5,000 years ago. Today, Skara Brae is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors who marvel at this ancient and remarkably preserved settlement, providing a glimpse into the lives of our Neolithic ancestors.

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Skara Brae Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 59.047/-3.35 or Grid Reference HY2218. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Skara Brae - 1979 Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3180 BC–2500 BC. Europe's most complete Neolithic village, Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites comprising "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney." Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it has been called the "Scottish Pompeii" because of its excellent preservation.
Skara Brae - 1979
Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3180 BC–2500 BC. Europe's most complete Neolithic village, Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites comprising "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney." Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it has been called the "Scottish Pompeii" because of its excellent preservation.
Skara Brae - 1979 Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3180 BC–2500 BC. Europe's most complete Neolithic village, Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites comprising "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney." Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it has been called the "Scottish Pompeii" because of its excellent preservation.
Skara Brae - 1979
Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3180 BC–2500 BC. Europe's most complete Neolithic village, Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites comprising "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney." Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it has been called the "Scottish Pompeii" because of its excellent preservation.
Bay of Skaill - 1979 The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill - 1979
The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill - 1979 The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill - 1979
The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill - 1979 Bay of Skaill and Knowe of Verron seen from Skara Brae. The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill - 1979
Bay of Skaill and Knowe of Verron seen from Skara Brae. The Bay of Skaill is a small bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland, Scotland. Bay of Skaill is the location of the famous Neolithic settlement, Skara Brae, and a large residence, Skaill House, the property of the laird on whose estate Skara Brae was discovered.
Bay of Skaill Looking across the Bay from its rocky west end.
Bay of Skaill
Looking across the Bay from its rocky west end.
Bay of Skaill Balanced stones on the shore. Natural rock arch just visible in distant headland.
Bay of Skaill
Balanced stones on the shore. Natural rock arch just visible in distant headland.
Bay of Skaill Waves breaking onto the sandy beach below Skara Brae.
Bay of Skaill
Waves breaking onto the sandy beach below Skara Brae.
Skara Brae: Bay of Skaill beach Looking along the beach from above the Skara Brae archaeological site. Someone has created a shapely pillar of stones in the foreground.
Skara Brae: Bay of Skaill beach
Looking along the beach from above the Skara Brae archaeological site. Someone has created a shapely pillar of stones in the foreground.
Skara Brae: one of the houses A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, we look across one of the houses, with typical central hearth and a few rooms and stone furniture surrounding it. Skaill Bay is in the background.
Skara Brae: one of the houses
A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, we look across one of the houses, with typical central hearth and a few rooms and stone furniture surrounding it. Skaill Bay is in the background.
Skara Brae: earthworks A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here we look across the site, towards Skaill Bay, with one of the passageways of the village in the foreground.
Skara Brae: earthworks
A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here we look across the site, towards Skaill Bay, with one of the passageways of the village in the foreground.
Skara Brae: one house and a bay view A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, we look towards Skaill Bay across one of the dwellings at the western edge of the site.
Skara Brae: one house and a bay view
A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, we look towards Skaill Bay across one of the dwellings at the western edge of the site.
Skara Brae: westernmost house A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. This is the most westerly house, displayed particularly intact, with the hearth as the typical centrepiece and stone furniture and various small rooms surrounding it. The southern shore of the Bay of Skaill is in the background.
Skara Brae: westernmost house
A truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. This is the most westerly house, displayed particularly intact, with the hearth as the typical centrepiece and stone furniture and various small rooms surrounding it. The southern shore of the Bay of Skaill is in the background.
Skara Brae: inside a Neolithic house Skara Brae is a truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, by the visitor centre a short distance from the site itself, a simulation dwelling has been reconstructed to give an impression of what the house would have been like in its original, covered state. We are looking through the doorway and see in front of us the central hearth, with a stone cupboard facing us.
Skara Brae: inside a Neolithic house
Skara Brae is a truly remarkable site, where in 1850 a storm blew away the dunes, revealing a 5,000-year-old settlement. Predating the Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge by a fair margin, the Neolithic village was protected very well by its covering over the centuries and was revealed in remarkably intact condition. Here, by the visitor centre a short distance from the site itself, a simulation dwelling has been reconstructed to give an impression of what the house would have been like in its original, covered state. We are looking through the doorway and see in front of us the central hearth, with a stone cupboard facing us.
Gateway to Skaill House The house dates back to the 17th century. Extensive alterations were made during the 1950s and the parts that are open to the public reflect that era.
Gateway to Skaill House
The house dates back to the 17th century. Extensive alterations were made during the 1950s and the parts that are open to the public reflect that era.
Bay of Skaill The Bay of Skaill,Orkney taken from the Neolithic site of Skara Brae.
Bay of Skaill
The Bay of Skaill,Orkney taken from the Neolithic site of Skara Brae.
Bay of Skaill from Skara Brae
Bay of Skaill from Skara Brae
Skara Brae Part of the Neolithic Village near Bay of Skaill, Orkney
Skara Brae
Part of the Neolithic Village near Bay of Skaill, Orkney
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Skara Brae is located at Grid Ref: HY2218 (Lat: 59.047, Lng: -3.35)

Unitary Authority: Orkney Islands

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///rumbles.chin.whirlpool. Near Sandwick, Orkney Islands

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 59.047,-3.35
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
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