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Archaeologists Find Mysterious Neolithic Structure In Orkney Dig
24 Hour Museum ^ | Wednesday, December 19, 2007 | Caroline Lewis

Posted on 12/20/2007 2:26:13 PM PST by SunkenCiv

The dig at the ancient dune-protected houses has now turned up an unexpected and impressive discovery dating to Neolithic times, archaeologists have announced following the conclusion of their work.

"A previously unknown Neolithic structure has been found that is very different from anything else known to exist at this remarkable site," explained Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland senior archaeologist.

"It was built using dressed stone and was clearly intended to look impressive from the outside. This marks it out from houses of the time, the exteriors of which tended to be created with function rather than looks in mind."

...The structure is about seven metres wide and even longer in length, but only part of it has so far been exposed. Excavations in the 1980s initially turned up a Neolithic building, but the nature of what was recently found has surprised the contracted team from EASE Archaeology. Further work will be carried out to discover more about what its function in the site might have been.

(Excerpt) Read more at 24hourmuseum.org.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: archaeology; godsgravesglyphs
The National Museum of Scotland first investigated the site between 1978 and 1981, unearthing a Neolithic building. [Crown Copyright Historic Scotland]
1 posted on 12/20/2007 2:26:13 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: blam; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; 49th; ...

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2 posted on 12/20/2007 2:27:06 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

The stone in the middle looks like..My God, it’s full of stars.


3 posted on 12/20/2007 2:32:48 PM PST by CholeraJoe (Some days it doesn't even make sense to chew through the restraints.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Was it a carbon-neutral dwelling?


4 posted on 12/20/2007 2:33:45 PM PST by unspun (God save us from egos -- especially our own.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Probably the 19th Hole where Orkney Scots got together for some of their rare peat tasting holy water.

“So thir I was in the dunes, down by the wee barn, with me ball in some gorse...”

“Aye, Rob, ye’re always in the dunes.”


5 posted on 12/20/2007 2:38:05 PM PST by wildbill
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To: CholeraJoe; unspun; wildbill

Birthplace of haggis.


6 posted on 12/20/2007 2:40:59 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv


7 posted on 12/20/2007 2:41:20 PM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: SunkenCiv
There are a couple of DNA clades that are unique to the Orkneys....which, was a suprise to everyone involved.

This is where the Vikings 'jumped off' on the way to Iceland.

8 posted on 12/20/2007 2:43:25 PM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: SunkenCiv
There are a couple of DNA clades that are unique to the Orkneys....which, was a suprise to everyone involved.

This is where the Vikings 'jumped off' on the way to Iceland.

9 posted on 12/20/2007 2:43:38 PM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: SunkenCiv
Dig in, Laddie!


10 posted on 12/20/2007 2:44:20 PM PST by CholeraJoe (Some days it doesn't even make sense to chew through the restraints.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Birthplace of haggis.

That could cause elevated atmopheric methane.

11 posted on 12/20/2007 2:47:00 PM PST by unspun (God save us from egos -- especially our own.)
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To: blam

Wow, they did it twice? ;’) The Shetlands were more in that category, probably; the Vikings colonized both.


12 posted on 12/20/2007 2:47:20 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Sunday 3 June: Shetland to Orkney

13 posted on 12/20/2007 2:52:26 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv
"Wow, they did it twice? ;’) "

Hmmmm. Maybe I got it mixed up, eh?

14 posted on 12/20/2007 2:52:30 PM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: blam

Well, islands tend to concentrate characteristics when compared with less isolated mainlands (Britain being an island, but a very large one, with a large population, so it’s “the mainland”). :’)


15 posted on 12/20/2007 2:55:24 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: CholeraJoe; unspun

:’D

(finding a picture was a nice touch, CJ)


16 posted on 12/20/2007 2:56:22 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv; blam
A History of Scotalnd's Masonry Construction: LINK.

Dating from c.3100 – 2200BC, the best preserved sequence of Neolithic building developments is at Skara Brae, Orkney.

Skara Brae. Interesting view...looks as if part of the island was snapped off 'yesterday'

The largest and most extensive group of prehistoric cup-and-ring marked rock carvings in Scotland exists at Achnabreck in Argyll. Whist a variety of enigmatic concentric circles, alignments and other features are cut into three exposed rock outcrops the examples are representative of the first true form of stone art to be found in Scotland. Although no full understanding of what the purpose of this art form was, similarities can be identified in the overall form and plan shape of Broch sites some millennia later.

Orkney Petroglyph...something astronomical? (Saturn Myth, methinks.)

17 posted on 12/20/2007 3:41:12 PM PST by Fred Nerks (FAIR DINKUM!)
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To: blam

Could be me. My family was from the area and has a castle in John o’ Groats.


18 posted on 12/20/2007 3:41:24 PM PST by doodad
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To: Fred Nerks

Thanks F!


19 posted on 12/20/2007 3:53:14 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Tuesday, December 18, 2007___________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: blam

Which means that in much warmer times, the structure was obviously a beach cabana and bar


20 posted on 12/20/2007 4:09:03 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Moveon is not us...... Moveon is the enemy)
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To: blam

I’m sure you understand, however, that these discoveries predate the Vikings by at least two thousand years. So who were these people? They might even be pre-Celtic. Just as the later people push the British Celts West and North, perhaps these are a remnant of a previous people moved pu from the Celtic invasion?

Perhaps they’re the settlements of a lower sea level North Atlantic people? Red Earth people? Solutrean/Clovis?


21 posted on 12/20/2007 4:21:51 PM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: Old Sarge

PING!!


22 posted on 12/20/2007 4:31:14 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
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To: CholeraJoe

My wife and I fully enjoy haggis. We have ours with a nice
red wine.


23 posted on 12/20/2007 4:48:08 PM PST by TaMoDee
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To: Fred Nerks

Now why did crop circles pop into my mind when I viewed the pictures you posted?

Just kidding - thanks for the pictures.


24 posted on 12/21/2007 4:19:48 AM PST by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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