Links of Noltland facts for kids
Links of Noltland is an amazing archaeological site located near Grobust Bay on the north coast of Westray, an island in Orkney, Scotland. An archaeological site is a place where people find old things from the past. At Links of Noltland, archaeologists have found the remains of a village from the Neolithic period (also known as the New Stone Age) and homes from the later Bronze Age. These periods were thousands of years ago!
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Discovering Ancient Life
Archaeologists started digging at Links of Noltland in the 1980s. They found a very old building from the Neolithic period. This building is now looked after by Historic Scotland, an organization that helps protect important historical places. They are even funding more digging to learn more about the site.
The Westray Wife and Other Figurines
In 2009, something truly special was found: a small stone carving called the Westray Wife. This figurine is shaped like a diamond and is thought to be the oldest carving of a human face ever found in Scotland! It has two dots for eyes, thick eyebrows, and a long nose. There are also patterns on its body that might show clothing.
An archaeologist named Richard Strachan said it was an "astonishingly rare" find. Even more exciting, two more similar figurines were found later – one in 2010 and another in 2012! Finding so many of these ancient carvings in one place is very unusual.
How Old is the Site?
It seems that people lived at Links of Noltland for a very long time. The first figurine was probably carved between 2500 and 3000 BCE (Before Common Era). One of the buildings found has been dated to around 2000 BCE. This shows that different groups of people might have lived here over many centuries.
Other interesting items found include shiny bone beads, tools, and a special type of pottery called grooved ware. Experts believe that the Links of Noltland site is even bigger than Skara Brae, another famous ancient village on the Orkney mainland. To protect the old ruins from winter storms, archaeologists are carefully covering them back up with soil.
A Village Hall and Daily Life
In 2009, another big discovery was made: a large building that archaeologists think was used by everyone in the village, like a "village hall." This building was about 20 metres (66 ft) wide and had very thick walls, about 3 metres (9.8 ft) thick! It was built overlooking the main part of the settlement.
These discoveries are helping us understand what life was like for the people who lived here during the Neolithic and early Bronze Age. We know they were farmers who grew crops like barley. They also kept animals such as cattle and sheep. And it seems they enjoyed eating venison, which is deer meat!
Nearby Historic Sites
Close to Links of Noltland, you can also find other interesting historical places. These include Queen o' Howe broch (an ancient stone tower), The Lum Head chambered tomb (an old burial place), and the ruins of Noltland Castle.
