Culture and History
Orkney has fascinating discoveries around every corner, many of which
ultimately pose more questions than they answer. Visitors don’t need
a particular knowledge of history – just curiosity, a lively imagination,
and a bit of vision!
Orkney
boasts some of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Europe, including
Neolithic villages, burial tombs and impressive stone circles. Orkneys
5,500 year-old Neolithic Heartland was granted World Heritage status by
UNESCO in 1999. This includes the magnificent Ring of Brodgar - originally
60 stones in a vast circle between the Stenness and Harray Lochs, 27 of
which remain standing. Close by are the Standing Stones of Stenness, Barnhouse
Village and the tomb of Maeshowe, which is considered to be one of the
finest architectural achievements of prehistoric Europe, and is Orkney’s
largest and finest chambered cairn. The Vikings visited Maeshowe during
the 12th century and left one of the largest collections of Norse runic
inscriptions known.
For
any visitor to Orkney, a visit to Skara Brae is essential. It is an incredibly
well preserved stone village containing an intricate maze of dwellings,
with stone beds, lintels and cupboards are all intact, and dates back some
5,000 years. The site was revealed in 1850 by a violent storm and is now
one of the most famous Neolithic sites in Northern Europe.
The Vikings didn’t only leave their mark on Maeshowe, but their influence
on place names, pattern of settlement, culture and language is a constant
reminder of our Norse heritage. The names of islands and streets in Orkney
are a constant reminder of the past and echo like an Ancient Norse litany.
Along with the Shetland Islands to the north, Orkney remained under Norse
rule till 1468, the last outposts of a dwindling Scandinavian dynasty to
fall under Scottish influence.
In
the heart of Orkney’s main town, Kirkwall lies St Magnus Cathedral
the most spectacular Viking structure. Earl Rognavald built it in 1137,
in memory of his uncle Magnus who was earlier murdered by another cousin
Haakon, co-ruler at that time. Today the beautiful sandstone building continues
to be a place of worship for the local people. There are many other structural
remains around the islands to visit including Bishop’s and Earl’s
Palaces, Kirkwall; the Round Church, Orphir; Cubbie Roo’s Castle,
Wyre; Tomb of the Eagles, South Ronaldsay; Mine Howe, Tankerness; Earls
Palace, Birsay; and the Brough of Birsay Church, to name a few.
For more recent history that is, even more vivid, go to Scapa Flow – a
50 square mile expanse of deep water, which forms one of the largest, sheltered
anchorages in the world. Evocative relics of two world wars lie both within
and around the Flow – seven German ships, the Churchill Barriers
with their beached blockships, the inspiring Italian Chapel.
Many visitors come to Orkney to find their more recent family roots in
the islands - Orcadians that have left to travel around the globe in pursuit
of a living or of adventure.Thousands return each year just to stand upon
the soil which their ancestors ploughed, or to sail upon the waters which
bore their ancestors off to foreign lands. From North Ronaldsay to Lyness,
every ruckle of stones may be the ancestral steading of someone like yourself,
who has yet to come home. For Orkney names, places, and useful research
links - log on to www.ancestralorkney.com
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|
| An Orkney Timeline | |
|
|
| 1940 | Building of Churchill Barriers begins |
| 1939 | Outbreak of World War Two |
| 1919 | German fleet scuttles itself in Scapa Flow |
| 1916 | HMS Hampshire sunk |
| 1914 | Outbreak of First World War |
| 1855 | First steamer connection with Scrabster |
| 1850 | Skara Brae revealed by storm |
| 1832 | North Ronaldsay sheep dyke built |
| 1813 | Last auk killed on Papa Westray |
| 1776 | American Declaration of Independence |
| 1725 | Pirate Gow captured near Eday |
| 1700 | Hudson’s Bay Company begins recruiting |
| 1666 | The Great Fire of London |
| 1633 | Carrick House built |
| 1590 | The first pub is opened in Stromness |
| 1492 | Columbus reaches America |
| 1486 | Kirkwall becomes Royal Burgh |
| 1468 | Orkney’s impignoration to Scotland |
| 1290 | Margaret, the Maid of Norway dies |
| 1263 | Battle of Largs, King Haakon dies |
| 1231 | Death of John Harraldson, last Viking Earl |
| 1137 | Foundation of St Magnus Cathedral |
| 1115 | St Magnus martryred |
| 600 | Norsemen begin to arrive |
| Viking raids begin in earnest | |
| 300 - 800 | Pictish culture in Orkney |
|
|
| BC | |
| 100 BC | Broch of Gurness |
| 214 BC | Great Wall of China being built |
| 600 BC | Brochs begin to appear |
| 700 BC | Iron Age dwellings |
| c. 2500 BC | Skara Brae abandoned |
| 2700 BC | Building begins on the pyramids of Egypt |
| 2750 BC | The tomb of Maeshowe built |
| 3000 BC | The Ring of Brodgar built |
| 3200 BC | Oldest evidence of occupation at Skara Brae |
| 3600 BC | Oldest remains at the Knap of Howar |
| 3800 BC- 1000 BC | Climate cooling, peat bogs developing |
| 3900 BC | The first human settlers are present |
| c. 10,000 BC | Last of the Ice Age glaciers retreats |
