Skara Brae

Skara Brae (pronounced /ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ/) is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of mainland Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten houses.

Skara Brae

Skara Brae, looking north
Shown within Orkney Islands
Location	Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, UK
Coordinates	59.048611°N 3.343056°W / 59.048611; -3.343056
Type	Neolithic settlement
History
Periods	Neolithic
Site notes
Ownership	Historic Scotland
Public access	Yes
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iii, iv
Designated	1999 (23rd session)
Part of	Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Reference no.	514
State Party	Scotland
Region	Europe and North America

It was occupied from roughly 3100–2500BC.^[1] It is Europe's most complete Neolithic village. The level of preservation is such that it is a main part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. This is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland, the others being the Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh; New Lanark in South Lanarkshire; and St Kilda in the Western Isles.

Discovery and features

Until 1850, Skara Brae lay under years of soil sediment when in the winter of that year a large storm stripped the grass from the large mound known as Skerrabra.^[2]

The outline of several of stone buildings was revealed and initial excavations were undertaken by William Watt, the laird of Skaill. It was fully excavated between 1928 and 1930 by Vere Gordon Childe following another storm in 1926.

Related pages

• Heart of Neolithic Orkney
• St Kilda
• Edinburgh Old & New towns
• New Lanark
• The Antonine Wall is the most northerly part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site, shared with England (Hadrian's Wall) and Germany (Limes Germanicus).