Carved in stone

Abstract

Orkney, an archipelago of some 70 islands off the northeast tip of Scotland is now thought of by most Britons, including Orcadians themselves, as remote and isolated. However, it has had several heydays in which it was an extremely important site, due to its highly fertile land, significantly warmer climate compared to the adjacent mainland of Scotland, and its location on major sea routes between Britain and Scandinavia. Successive waves of migration and cultural changes are recorded in a wealth of stone monuments, from the Neolithic period to the present, which define the landscape and provide a highly visible, layered history.