Skara Brae, Stone Houses of History
In the winter of 1850, a storm arrived in the town of Orkney, Scotland and washed away a hill of grass that would unveil a window to the past. What the storm uncovered was a series of eight dwellings that were over 4,000 years old. Today the small encampment can be visited by travelers with a love of history and has gained UNESCO World Heritage Site Status, which will further protect the site.
After the storm, a few villagers from Orkney noticed a series of stones that had been exposed and were clearly built by human hand. At first those who participated in the excavation, thought the site to be from the Iron Age, but after carbon dating was performed it was learned that these dwellings were inhabited between 3200 and 2200 B.C.
Each of the eight dwellings are built the same with a large central room, which houses a fire place with beds on either side and what appears to be a shelving unit at one end. The preservation of this site is amazing and was preserved by the sands that had covered it for 40 centuries.
The same cause that had uncovered the site is now its worst enemy. Because of the harsh winter and the constant winds of the area, erosion has started to take its toll on Skara Brae. Actions are taking place to preserve this small region. For those who love history, adventure, and travel, book your next trip to Skara Brae for a lesson in architecture that has truly stood the test of time.
