How old is Jarlshof?

4000-Year-Old
Jarlshof: A 4000-Year-Old Archaeological Site in Scotland | Magazine PONANT.

When was Jarlshof built?

Excavations began in 1995 and several years of excavation have thrown new light on the Iron Age and brochs in Shetland, incidentally helping us to understand more about that period at Jarlshof. Dating of the finds indicates that broch-building began earlier than expected, between 400BC and 200BC.

Why is the settlement of Jarlshof so well preserved?

Sand blown by the wind from the nearby dunes settled in between the layers and eventually sealed and protected the whole site. Storms eventually revealed the hidden site in the 1890s.

What items have archaeologists found at Jarlshof?

Bronze Age Smithy (800BC) Fragments of moulds for creating axes, knives, swords and pins were found here. Given that bronze is made of copper and tin, and that the nearest tin deposit is in Cornwall, the people at Jarlshof must have had strong sea-faring trade links!

How old is Skara Brae?

5,000 years ago
Skara Brae dates back to Neolithic times, over 5,000 years ago. Radiocarbon dating suggests that people were living in Skara Brae for around 650 years between 3180 B.C.E and 2,500 B.C.E, making it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Why is Skara Brae called Skara Brae?

Skara Brae is a Neolithic Age site, consisting of ten stone structures, near the Bay of Skaill, Orkney, Scotland. The name `Skara Brae’ is a corruption of the old name for the site, `Skerrabra’ or `Styerrabrae’ which designated the mound which buried (and thereby preserved) the buildings of the village.

What does Lady broch Tuarach mean?

Named for an old broch on the land, Broch Tuarach means “north-facing tower” in Gaelic. Lallybroch, as the estate is known among those who live there, in turn means “lazy tower”.

What is the oldest settlement in Scotland?

Skara Brae /ˈskærə ˈbreɪ/ is a stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney archipelago of Scotland….Skara Brae.

Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Shown within Orkney Islands
Location Mainland, Orkney, Scotland, UK
History

Where is the Jarlshof archaeological site in Scotland?

Jarlshof (/ˈjɑːrlzhɒf/ YARLZ-hof) is the best known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland, Scotland. It lies near the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland and has been described as “one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles”. It contains remains dating from 2500 BC up to the 17th century AD.

Why was Jarlshof important to the history of Shetland?

The remains at Jarlshof represent thousands of years of human occupation, and can be seen as a microcosm of Shetland history. Other than the Old House of Sumburgh (see below) the site remained largely hidden until a storm in the late 19th century washed away part of the shore, and revealed evidence of these ancient buildings.

What was the name of the Norse settlement at Jarlshof?

Oblique aerial view of the excavated settlement, broch and lairds house at Jarlshof, taken from the NNW. Oblique aerial view of the excavated settlement, broch and lairds house at Jarlshof, taken from the WNW. Excavation Photograph: View of Norse buildings and Laird’s House. Excavation Photograph: General view of site.

What kind of buildings were found at Jarlshof?

Buildings on the site include the remains of a Bronze Age smithy, an Iron Age broch and roundhouses, a complex of Pictish wheelhouses, a Viking longhouse, and a mediaeval farmhouse. No further excavations have been undertaken since the early 1950s and no radiocarbon dating has been attempted.