archaeology | Westray and Papa Westray Orkney

Knap of Howar

siteAdmin — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:16:19 +0000

The Knap of Howar is not only one of the most significant archaeological sites in Orkney, but the site of the oldest standing houses in northern Europe. These two buildings are significantly older than the village at Skara Brae, and were inhabited from about 3800 BC by neolithic farmers who grew crops on the fertile land and raised cattle, sheep and a few pigs. The builders designed for maximum protection from the elements, digging down into the midden left by an earlier settlement so that the houses are invisible until you are almost standing on them. The long low entrance passageways sheltered the dwelling areas from the Orkney wind, and you can see the slots in the door-jambs at the inner end, for a bar to hold a door against the stone checks.

The interior of the larger house is partitioned by stone flags into two rooms, the outer one furnished with a stone sleeping platform and

the inner with a hearth and trough quern. A connecting passage leads to the smaller house which seems to have been the workshop and storage area, the innermost room lined with stone cupboards.

The Knap is not a village like Skara Brae but seems to have been the home of a single, virtually self-sufficient family unit. Excavation revealed bone and stone tools, and Unstan-ware pottery – quite different from the Grooved Ware used by the people at Skara Brae. As well as farming, the people of the Knap were highly competent deep-sea fishermen, and hunted sea-birds such as the Great Auk.

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Heritage Centre

siteAdmin — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:33:13 +0000

The Heritage Centre is a “must see” starting point for anyone interested in Westray’s past. Situated in the centre of Pierowall village The Heritage Centre is a Visit Scotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction.

Inside there is an an annual display plus permanent exhibition panels on walls, and a simulated geo with model seabirds and authentic bird sounds. There are also interactive displays which will attract youngsters. Many records of the island’s history and gravestone records available to browse.

Over the years the Heritage Centre has built up a large collection of black and white photos of historic significance, collated the kirk yard records from the island’s three cemeteries and gathered memories of past activities in Westray e.g. schools, kirks, sports, sea transport, Noup Head lighthouse, royal visits, fishing, crafts, World Wars 1 and 2, and the Heritage Trust continues to research a fresh subject each year.

The Heritage Centre in Pierowall village has a wide range of high quality, locally produced goods, and hand-made art and craft items available for purchase, as well as other souvenirs and gifts.

In the Heritage Centre there is now a database of many local families dating back to early 17th Century and the Trust has published a number of books and booklets on local subjects.

Admission is £4 per person with concessions at £3, or you may choose to become a friend of the Heritage Centre for an annual fee.

The Heritage Trust has its own web site at www.westrayheritage.co.uk

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Westray Wife

siteAdmin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:39:08 +0000

The Westray Wife (also known as the Orkney Venus) is a small Neolithic figurine, 4 cm in height, carved from sandstone that was discovered during an Historic Scotland dig at the Links of Noltland in the summer of 2009. It was the first Neolithic carving of a human form to have been found in Scotland, and to date it is the earliest depiction of a face found in the United Kingdom.

A second figurine of about the same size and shape as the Westray Wife, but made from clay, and missing its head, was discovered by archaeologists at the same Links of Noltland site during the summer of 2010. This figurine, 3.4 cm in height, has a rectangular panel decorated with triangles on the front of its torso, which may represent a tunic, and a punched hole in the centre of its stomach. A number of small clay balls have also been discovered at the site, and it is possible that these were intended for use as heads for similar figurines.

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