The Lost Village of Skara Brae

The Lost Village of Skara Brae

The lost village The village of Skara Brae is more than 4, 000 years old. It was built on the biggest island of the Orkneys in a time which archaeologists call the New Stone Age. The people who lived then made tools like knives and axes from stone, usually flint.

People lived together in small villages and grew crops like barley and wheat, and kept animals. Skara Brae was buried for over 4, 000 years under tonnes of sand and soil, and wasn't found again until 1850.

The Great Storm, 1850 In the winter of 1850 fierce storms battered the British Isles. Two hundred people living near the coast were drowned. Huge waves crashed on to the coast of the Bay of Skaill.

What was found Tonnes of sand and soil were washed away, or blown away by the strong winds. The storm uncovered the remains of stone walls. Sir William Watt, who owned the land, and some of his farm workers started to dig around the walls.

Digging carried on for 18 years during the short summer months. Four stone houses were found, complete apart from their roofs. Beds, fireplaces and shelves - all made of stone - were also found inside the houses.