Skara Brae facts for kids
Skara Brae, looking north
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 Location in Orkney Islands
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| Location | Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, UK |
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| Coordinates | 59°02′55″N 3°20′35″W / 59.048611°N 3.343056°W |
| Type | Neolithic settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
| 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 |
Skara Brae (pronounced /ˈskɑrə ˈbreɪ/) is a very old stone village in Scotland. It's located on the mainland of the Orkney Islands, right by the Bay of Skaill. Imagine people living here over 5,000 years ago! This village was built during the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age.
Skara Brae has ten houses made of stone. People lived in this village from about 3100 BC to 2500 BC. It is the most complete Stone Age village ever found in Europe. Because it's so well-preserved, it's a big part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Heart of Neolithic Orkney. This means it's a super important place that the world wants to protect. Scotland has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The others are the Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh, New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, and St Kilda in the Western Isles.
Contents
Discovering Skara Brae
For many years, Skara Brae was hidden under layers of soil. But in the winter of 1850, a huge storm hit the Orkney Islands. This storm was so powerful that it stripped away the grass from a large mound of earth. This mound was known as Skerrabra.
The First Finds
When the storm cleared, the outlines of several stone buildings appeared. A local landowner named William Watt, who owned the land at Skaill, started the first digs. He wanted to see what was hidden there.
Full Excavation
Another big storm happened in 1926. This storm caused even more damage and revealed more of the ancient village. After this, a famous archaeologist named Vere Gordon Childe took over. He led a full excavation of Skara Brae between 1928 and 1930. Thanks to his work, we can now see this amazing ancient village.
What You Can See at Skara Brae
Skara Brae is special because its stone houses are so well-preserved. You can see the walls, roofs, and even some of the furniture inside. The people who lived here used stone for everything.
- Stone Beds: Each house had beds made of stone.
- Stone Dressers: There were stone shelves, like dressers, where people kept their belongings.
- Stone Hearths: In the middle of each house, there was a stone hearth for fires. This kept the houses warm.
- Covered Passages: The houses were connected by covered passages. This helped protect people from the harsh weather.
The village was built partly underground. This design helped to keep the houses warm and protected from the strong winds and cold weather of the Orkney Islands.
Other Important Sites
Skara Brae is just one of many amazing historical places in Scotland. Here are a few others that are also very important:
- Heart of Neolithic Orkney: This is the larger area that Skara Brae is part of. It includes other ancient sites like the Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe.
- St Kilda: A remote group of islands with a unique history and amazing wildlife.
- Edinburgh Old & New towns: The historic capital city of Scotland, with a mix of old castles and newer buildings.
- New Lanark: An old mill village that shows how people lived and worked during the Industrial Revolution.
- The Antonine Wall: This was the most northern border of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site. It was built by the Romans to protect their empire.
Images for kids
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Evidence of home furnishings
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View over the settlement, showing covering to house No. 7 and proximity to modern shore line. The glass roof has now been replaced by a turf one, as the humidity and heat caused by the glass roof was hindering preservation.
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Symbols found at Skara Brae and other Neolithic sites
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Site Plan
See also
In Spanish: Skara Brae para niños
