Skara Brae

Quick Facts: Who was Skara Brae?

Subject:

Skara Brae

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A remarkably preserved Neolithic village settlement on the west coast of Orkney, Scotland.

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Origins & Early Life

Skara Brae () is a stone-built Neolithic settlement located along the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney. The site was discovered following a storm exposing the presence of stone structures within the coastal sand dunes. Today, ten structures and four passageways are visible, as well as the remains of stone furniture and fixtures. The site was occupied from roughly 3180 BC to around 2500 BC and is Europe's most complete Neolithic village. Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites making up "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney".

Career & Major Achievements

Care of the site is the responsibility of Historic Environment Scotland which works with partners in managing the site: Orkney Islands Council, NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage), and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Visitors to the site are welcome year-round. The modern name Skara Brae reflects the layered linguistic history of Orkney, where elements from Old Norse and Scots frequently appear in place names. The word brae is a Scots term meaning "slope" or "hillside", commonly used in Scotland to describe rising ground or a bank above lower land. The first element, Skara, derives from earlier recorded forms such as Skerrabra or Styerrabrae, names originally applied to the grassy mound that once covered the buried settlement.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Since the archeological site's discovery and excavation, the name has been adopted in referring to the Neolithic village. In the winter of 1850, a severe storm hit Scotland, causing widespread damage and over 200 deaths. In the Bay of Skaill, the storm stripped earth from a large irregular knoll. When the storm cleared, local villagers found the outline of a village consisting of several small houses without roofs. William Graham Watt of Skaill House, a son of the local laird who was a self-taught geologist, began an amateur excavation of the site, but after four houses were uncovered, work was abandoned in 1868.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1850: 1850 Milestone — In the winter of 1850, a severe storm hit Scotland, causing widespread damage and over 200 deaths.
2. 1868: 1868 Milestone — William Graham Watt of Skaill House, a son of the local laird who was a self-taught geologist, began an amateur excavation of the site, but after four houses were uncovered, work was abandoned in 1868.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Skara Brae

True or False: “The initial discovery of Skara Brae was due to a storm that exposed structures within the coastal sand dunes.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While a severe storm in 1850 helped reveal the site's outline, the actual excavation and detailed study began much later.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Historical peer (Died in 1850) (1850): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Historical peer (Died in 1850) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.
• Abdülmecid II — Historical peer (Born in 1868) (1868): Last Ottoman Caliph and prominent Turkish aesthete, head of the Osmanoğlu family.
• Adah Isaacs Menken — Historical peer (Died in 1868) (1868): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.

Frequently Asked Questions about Skara Brae