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| Archaeological finds (not my image) |
Finally, we left the Western Isles and headed for the Shetland Islands. First stop was to visit Jarlshof on Mainland. Jarlshof, meaning House of the Laird, is perhaps the best known prehistoric archaeological site in the Shetlands.
An archaeological dig in the 1890s unearthed layers of habitation hidden under tons of sand dunes – Neolithic, Bronze Age and Vikings fromy 793–1066 and on until C16. Here we climbed into an Iron Age Broch - defence tower. They were circular structures with double-skinned windowless walls encircling a central space. Close by was a settlement of 'wheelhouses' which were quite intriguing. Built of stone, they had sod roofs or sometimes sod over whale bones. They contained small rooms and alcoves, storage areas with a hearth in the centre of the house.
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| We all piled in around the hearth for storytime |
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| The entrance to the living quarters was through a tunnel |
At the same location were the remains of a Norse Longhouse, actually more a settlement. Like Neolithic houses, the Longhouse walls were made of stone with a sod roof. People lived in one end and cattle in the other. The floors, as in many Neolithic houses, were made of packed earth with oblong stones embedded on their ends. This was overlaid with clay or other compacted earth so any water could drain away underneath. The floors had a slight slope to aid that drainage. Quite ingenious.
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| In the distance across the remains of a Norse settlement, can be seen the Laird's House |
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| ... and of course Shetland ponies! |
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| One of my favourites from the isles - a delicate Sea Campion |
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