Orkney Neolithic Farmsteads
Barnhouse Settlement
Knap of Howar
Links of Noltland
Skara Brae
Orkney Neolithic Farmsteads is in Prehistoric Orkney.
Europe, British Isles, Scotland, Orkney Islands, Orkney, Ness of Brodgar, Barnhouse Settlement [Map]
3000BC. Barnhouse Settlement [Map] was discovered in 1984 by Colin Richards. Excavations were conducted between 1986 and 1991, over time revealing the base courses of at least 15 houses. The houses have similarities to those of the early phase of the better-known settlement at Skara Brae [Map] in that they have central hearths, beds built against the walls and stone dressers, and internal drains. Grooved Ware was found.
Europe, British Isles, Scotland, Orkney Islands, Orkney Northern Islands, Papa Westray, Knap of Howar [Map]
Unstan Ware is finely decorated early Neolithic Pottery from the 4th Millenium BC and the 3rd Millenium BC; elegant shallow bowls with a groove-pattern around the rim, or undecorated round bottomed bowls. The name is from the Unstan Chambered Cairn [Map] where the pottery was first found in 1884. Unstan Ware is found in tombs: Midhowe Chambered Cairn [Map], Tomb of the Eagles [Map], Taversoe Tuick [Map] as well as farmsteads: Knap of Howar [Map].
Carbon Date. 3706BC. Early Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bones, id as mixed, (collagen) from primary midden filling south wall-core of House 1, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie. Comment (subm): sample re-run as SRR-452, neither seems reliable.
ID: 3068, C14 ID: SRR-347 Date BP: 5706 +/- 85, Start Date BP: 5621, End BP: 5791
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Scot Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
3700BC to 2800BC. Knap of Howar [Map] is a Neolithic farmstead.
Carbon Date. 2830BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Organic buried soil at base of test-pit 16 at Holland, near Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 2926, C14 ID: Birm-817 Date BP: 4830 +/- 100, Start Date BP: 4730, End BP: 4930
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 477, OS North: 112
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2770BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone, id as mixed (collagen), from primary midden, trench V, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie. Comment (subm): predates houses 1 & 2.
ID: 3076, C14 ID: Birm-816 Date BP: 4770 +/- 180, Start Date BP: 4590, End BP: 4950
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2765BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen) from secondary midden, trench II, Period II at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3074, C14 ID: SRR-348 Date BP: 4765 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 4695, End BP: 4835
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2690BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen) from secondary floor deposit, house 2, Period II at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3071, C14 ID: Birm-814 Date BP: 4690 +/- 130, Start Date BP: 4560, End BP: 4820
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2532BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen), from secondary floor deposit in passage, house 1a, Pd II at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3070, C14 ID: SRR-346 Date BP: 4532 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 4462, End BP: 4602
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2451BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen) from secondary midden, trench III, period II at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3073, C14 ID: SRR-344 Date BP: 4451 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 4381, End BP: 4521
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2422BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone, id as mixed (collagen), from primary midden, trench II, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3075, C14 ID: SRR-349 Date BP: 4422 +/- 70, Start Date BP: 4352, End BP: 4492
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2348BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen), from floor deposit of House 1, Period II at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3069, C14 ID: SRR-345 Date BP: 4348 +/- 75, Start Date BP: 4273, End BP: 4423
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2270BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone, id as mixed (collagen), from primary midden in wall core, house 2, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3077, C14 ID: Birm-813 Date BP: 4270 +/- 100, Start Date BP: 4170, End BP: 4370
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2250BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone (collagen) from primary midden, trench IV, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie.
ID: 3072, C14 ID: Birm-815 Date BP: 4250 +/- 130, Start Date BP: 4120, End BP: 4380
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2081BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Animal bone, id as mixed (collagen), from primary midden in south wall-core, house 1, Period I at Knap of Howar [Map], Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll A Ritchie. Comment (subm): SRR-452 & SRR-347 taken from the same sample, ? unreliable.
ID: 3078, C14 ID: SRR-452 Date BP: 4081 +/- 65, Start Date BP: 4016, End BP: 4146
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 483, OS North: 518
Archaeologist Name: A Ritchie
Reference Name: Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 113, 1983, 40-121 esp 118; C Renfrew, 'The prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 264
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Europe, British Isles, Scotland, Orkney Islands, Orkney Northern Islands, Westray, Links of Noltland [Map]
3300BC to 800BC. Links of Noltland [Map] is a farming settlement. Neolithic remains include a dozen buildings and the 'Westray Wifie' figurine. Grobust Bay is also home to Orkney's largest Bronze Age settlement.
Carbon Date. 2800BC. Late Neolithic Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, id as Microtus arvalis, vole, LN81, FQ 83, from calcareous matrix at Links of Noltland [Map], Isle of Westray, Orkney isles, off Scotland. Subm J C Clutton-Brock & M J Armour-Chelu. Comment (subm): date is too early for this level; however, similar date from Knap of Howar (Papa Westray) shows that Neolithic people were present on the islands by this point, and this early date probably indicates some earlier activity recorded into a later level on site. As with OxA-1080, small animal remains possibly not very suitable for close sequence dating.
ID: 6692, C14 ID: OxA-1081 Date BP: 4800 +/- 1280, Start Date BP: , End BP:
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 428, OS North: 493
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke et al
Reference Name: Archaeometry, 29, 1987, 301; Curr Archaeol, 6, 1978, 44-6
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2215BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Bos, from secondary plough soil immediately preceding main midden deposition in W midden area at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3122, C14 ID: GU-1429 Date BP: 4215 +/- 65, Start Date BP: 4150, End BP: 4280
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 2140BC. Early Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Bos, from secondary plough soil immediately preceding main midden deposition in W midden area at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3123, C14 ID: GU-1428 Date BP: 4140 +/- 65, Start Date BP: 4075, End BP: 4205
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1970BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, id as Lutra lutra, otter, LN81, HO 85, from within Neolithic house levels at Links of Noltland [Map], Isle of Westray, Orkney isles, off Scotland. Subm J C Clutton-Brock & M J Armour-Chelu. Comment (subm): date falls into middle of range for conventional radiocarbon dates obtained from this part of the site.
ID: 6693, C14 ID: OxA-1082 Date BP: 3970 +/- 80, Start Date BP: 3890, End BP: 4050
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 428, OS North: 493
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke et al
Reference Name: Archaeometry, 29, 1987, 301; Curr Archaeol, 6, 1978, 44-6
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1950BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Bos, from midden around articulated deer skeletons in W Midden at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3124, C14 ID: GU-1431 Date BP: 3950 +/- 65, Start Date BP: 3885, End BP: 4015
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1860BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Bos, from upper layer of midden deposition in W Midden area at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3125, C14 ID: GU-1430 Date BP: 3860 +/- 60, Start Date BP: 3800, End BP: 3920
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1840BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Bos, Sus, ovicaprid and Cervus elaphus from midden material used to fill in the structure 'at Grobust' at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney, Scotland. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3126, C14 ID: GU-1433 Date BP: 3840 +/- 60, Start Date BP: 3780, End BP: 3900
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1722BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, animal, id as Cervus elaphus from deer butchering site in windblown sand abutting well-preserved wall sealed by midden with Beaker pottery at Links of Noltland [Map], Westray, Orkney. Coll D V Clarke.
ID: 3127, C14 ID: GU-1432 Date BP: 3722 +/- 60, Start Date BP: 3662, End BP: 3782
Abstract: Grooved Ware site
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke
Reference Name: Discovery Excav Scotland', 1982, 25; Renfrew C, 'The Prehistory of Orkney', 1985, 265; Brit Archaeol Rep, 117, 1983
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767
Carbon Date. 1590BC. Middle Bronze Age Carbon Dates
Report: Bone, id as Microtus arvalis, vole, LN80, FG 005, from calcareous matrix at Links of Noltland [Map], Isle of Westray, Orkney isles, off Scotland. Subm J C Clutton-Brock & M J Armour-Chelu. Comment (subm): date is about 200 years too late for this level; either ploughing had disturbed deposit or animal had burrowed. Date has confirmed Neolithic dating for voles. Small animal remains possibly not very suitable for close sequence dating.
ID: 6691, C14 ID: OxA-1080 Date BP: 3590 +/- 80, Start Date BP: 3510, End BP: 3670
OS Letter: HY, OS East: 428, OS North: 493
Archaeologist Name: D V Clarke et al
Reference Name: Archaeometry, 29, 1987, 301; Curr Archaeol, 6, 1978, 44-6
Council for British Archaeology (2012) Archaeological Site Index to Radiocarbon Dates from Great Britain and Ireland [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1017767