Skara Brae is a large Neolithic settlement that is composed entirely of stone, found on the coast of Orkney, Scotland, on the Bay of Skaill.
The stone settlement of Skara Brae is composed of ten houses, that are built in a cluster that is estimated to have been occupied during the periods of 2500 BC to 3100 BC.
Due to the fact that the Skara Brae settlement is one of the most complete Neolithic villages that are still in existence, and in reasonable condition, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, at times it has been called the Pompeii of Britain.
The village of Skara Brae was hidden from view until 1850, when a harsh winter storm ripped away the grass from a mound, unearthing the stone structures. The laird of Skaill of that time period, William Watt, led the excavations of the village, and by 1968 there were four buildings, and a number of objects discovered at the Skara Brae site.
After the initial discovery, the site was left untouched until 1925, when another large storm swept across the mound area, and damaged the structures that were unearthed previously. At this point the Commissioners of HM Office of Works were placed in charge of guarding the site, and it was decided that a seawall should be built to protect Skara Brae.
At this time Vere Gordon Childe led an archaeological investigation of the site, and while he was consolidating the structures that were already known, some new structures were also found. In total, after his efforts, there were seven stone buildings, that were all linked to each other by stone passageways.
Each was constructed of flagstone that was eroded over time by the oceans and was made from red sandstone. According to archaeologists, the structures probably were enclosed by middens and roofed with whalebone and timber. Midden is the archaeological term for domestic waste.
The Skara Brae homes were built into the mounds of earth, and provided insulation for those who dwelled within. Most of the homes are about 40 square meters, and are simply a large square room that had a hearth, which could be used for cooking and heating. Since there are only seven homes, scientists estimate that around fifty people could have lived in the village at one time.
Within the homes, stone was also used to build furniture such as cupboards, seats, and storage boxes. The doors of the homes could be shut by using a bar that slid across the stone door. Equally sunning is the fact that although the homes were built during ancient times, each home had a primitive toilet that would drain sewage out of the homes.
The people who resided in Skara Brae are thought to be pastoralists, known as the Grooved Ware people, that made their livelihood by raising sheep and cattle, although some evidence has been found that they may have farmed crops as well.
