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Location:
Mainland Orkneys, Scotland. |
Grid Reference:
59° 00' N. 3° 00' W. |
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The Orkneys complex has been seen
for a long time as a separate cluster of megaliths. However, it is now
realised that several of the megalithic sites are connected, forming a prehistoric ceremonial
landscape.
The stark landscape of the Islands also offers a unique backdrop for these
beautifully constructed sites, against which they take on an ethereal
quality, as the builders must have been aware.
(Click here
for Orkneys map)
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(Scroll down for more)
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The Orkneys Complex:
There are several
prominent megalithic sites on the Orkney Islands. The availability of
such good quality local stone gave these megaliths a unique quality which still remains today.
Until now there has been little solid evidence for dating the sites.
This year (2008), Renfew's 1973 trenches were re-opened at Brodgar, and
a series of samples have been sent for radio-carbon dating (4). We await
the results.
Who were the builders
of the Orkneys megaliths?
It is suggested that
because the the two stone circles have henges that were dug from the
living rock, that the builders may have introduced this technique from
elsewhere, such as England where vast henges were dug, but usually into
soil.
The Neolithic
immigration of the Orkneys began around 3,500 BC.
There are several
features of the primary Orkneys megaliths which have similarities to
other Megalithic structures from further south in Europe (i.e. Ireland,
England, France), with all have similarly orientated passage-mounds,
Henges, Stone-circles suggestive of astronomical observation. Also the
structures themselves show strong cultural similarities through Art,
Technique and design. At present, these people are commonly referred to
as the 'Beaker-people', or 'Boat people' from the Neolithic period. A
trend for migration along the western coast of Atlantic Europe can be
seen from southern to northern with the Orkney complex representing the
northerly most example of socio-astro-religious civil-scale
constructions.
Suggestions that the
Neolithic megalith builders were closely connected with the Irish
passage mound builders, for example can be seen through the art,
construction and
This beautiful mace-head (right), was found at
Knowth. The flint itself comes from the
Orkney islands, which are by no means
the nearest source of flint to the Boyne valley. It is one of several
clues that testify to a cultural exchange between these two important
megalithic complexes, along with the style of art, exterior and interior
similarities in design of the passage mounds (Maes
Howe) and a strong astronomical theme underlying the development of
the structures.
(Prehistoric
Irish/Scottish/French connections).
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Maes Howe:
Although Maes Howe has not been dated directly,
the association with the stone circle at
Stennes
nearby, and with the well known settlement site of
Skara Brae
on the west coast makes it probable that it was erected around 3,000 BC.
Maes Howe was carefully constructed to allow the winter solstice sunlight
to enter the passage, entering the inner chamber for several minutes only
each year. The sun is said to shine in the chamber for a few minutes before
it passes behind the Hill of Howe (Left), then to re-appear for another few
minutes before setting between the two hills.
Just inside the entrance to the
passage on the left side there is a recess built into the passage wall. This
recess holds a large stone, which was found in the passage during the
excavations of 1861. This stone may have been used by the builders of
Maes Howe to block the front of the passage. The recess suggests that the
blocking and unblocking of the mound could be carried out at will. The stone
fits the width of the passage exactly, but leaves a strip above open to a
height of 50cm following restoration. This feature is reminiscent of the
light-box above the
passage in the Neolithic mound of
Newgrange
in Co. Meath, which allows the light
into the chamber at sunrise on midwinter's day.
Meas Howe should not be viewed as an independent
structure. It was an integral part of the prehistoric landscape, as
the photo above illustrates. The whole area can be seen as an outdoor
ceremonial arena, with the ever-present Hills of Hoy in the background
receiving the midwinter sun and marking the new year. Archaeologists
are currently investigating the causeway that links
Stennes to
Brodgar and Bookam, where several large stones
suggest a ceremonial route between the two sites.
(More about Maes
Howe)
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Stones of Stennes
View from Stennes across the artificial causeway
(connecting sites).
Although it is
difficult to see.. both the Watch-stone and the Ring of Brodgar
are visible in this photo.
(Watch-stone
between centre and right stones, Brodgar left of left-hand stone)
There were once
two 'watch-stones' at the entrance to the causeway and
archaeologists are currently in the process of uncovering several
other large stones across the causeway, believed to have once been
a ceremonial passage between the two sites.
(More about the Stones of Stennes) |
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Brodgar- Hills of Hoy.
The Hills of Hoy from as seen from Ring of
Brodgar.
The natural landscape and the megaliths join
together, connecting the builders with the universe. The sun sets between
the two Hills of Hoy on the winter solstice.
From the centre of the circle, it can be seen how a mound was deliberately
built at the same place the sun set behinds the left-hand Hill of Hoy on the
winter solstice. This attempt to replicate the horizon can be seen in several other megalithic sites
in Scotland where it is also generally associated with astronomical observation.
(More about the Ring
of Brodgar)
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Archaeo-astronomy:
At the latitude of
the Orkneys the major lunar standstills north becomes almost
circumpolar, (neither rising nor setting - with the effect that the
moon 'rolls' along the horizon). Because the Earth’s axial tilt
has changed by nearly half a degree since the majority of the stone
circles were built, this effect is no longer accurate and the latitude today would have to be 63°
north for a lunar standstill north to be truly circumpolar (5), while
a truly circumpolar Moon would have been visible on the Orkneys at
around 3,500 BC.
Maes Howe:
The entrance to the Maes-Howe
passage-mound is orientated towards the setting winter solstice sun
behind the prominent Hills of Hoy in the distance. The chamber was
placed so that for several days before and after the winter
solstice, the sunlight flashes directly into the passage not once,
but twice, with a break of several minutes between each
illumination.
The passage is aligned facing
Southwest, facing Ward Hill. For 20 days before the solstice and for 20 days
after the solstice, the sun shines into the chamber twice a day. Every 8
years Venus causes a double flash of light to enter the chamber. This last
happened in 1996 and will happen again in 2004. “At around 2.35 p.m. on the
winter solstice, the sun shines on the back of the chamber for 17 minutes,
and then sets at 3.20 p.m. At 5.00 p.m. the light of Venus enters the first
slot, lighting the chamber, and then at 5.15 p.m. it sets behind Ward Hill.
But 15 minutes after its first setting, Venus reappears beyond Ward Hill,
and the light enters the chamber for a further two minutes, before setting
for a second and last time”. (16).
The
passage faces south-west, towards the position of the setting sun between
the hills of Hoy (see above), so that the beam of sunlight strikes the back wall of the chamber.
(Return
to Top) |
Skara Brae: A Priestly centre?
Skara Brae was built by the coast, in a beautiful
bay facing the setting sun. The 'village' lies in line with the great circles of
Bookam, Brodgar and Stennes which are now realised to have been part of a
ceremonial route, through what must have seemed a most sacred landscape through
Neolithic eyes. The position of Skara Brae at the end of such a significant
grouping of monuments combined with discoveries inside offers the possibility
that the structures (and inhabitants) may have even been a part of the
ceremonial process. It is argued by Garnham (6) that in the layout of the
buildings at Skara Brae we can see the forerunner for the design of the internal
cruciform chambers of passage mounds. But if, on the other hand the residents
were members of an elite or 'Priestly' class, as is suspected from the location,
design and contents of the buildings, then any similarity to the shape of the
Maes-Howe chambers, for example, can be reasonably explained through this
context.
The overall layout of Skara Brae has several
design factors which suggest a specialised function, such as 'workshops',
a room lockable only from the outside..?? and the discovery of several hoards of
precious items hidden in the walls of the chambers (such as 2,400 inscribed
beads and pendants in one find alone), along with the following objects...
These carved geometric stones c. 3,000 BC still
defy explanation.
Around 400 similar, but less ornate, stone
balls have been found in other parts of Scotland between the River Tay and the
Moray Firth. Carved chalk balls have been found at megalithic sites in both
Ireland (Creevykeel),
and in Brittany. Their purpose can only be speculated at today.
(More about Skara Brae)
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Geometry of the Orkneys Megaliths.
A series of measurements and
alignments have been taken which connect the Maes Howe Tumulus with the
Ring of Brodgar.
In a direction 60° south from
the centre of the Ring of Brodgar at a distance of 63 chains is the
'Watchstone' (18ft high), 42 to 43 chains further on in the same line
is the 'Barnstone', (15 ft high). At the same distance of 42 or 43 chains to
the north-east of the Barnstone is the tumulus of Maes Howe.
The Ring of Brodgar is a
stone-circle which originally consisted of 60 equally spaced
megaliths. The Stones of Stennes was originally a stone-circle
consisting of 12 equally spaced stones.
The numbers of stones used
for the circles is suggestive of base-6 mathematics, the same base
upon which all time and space is measured..
Burl makes note of the 'mistaken
coincidence' in connection with this fact. He
says of it:
'From Brodgar,
where there was once 60 stones, to the Stripple stones with a probable
thirty, the builders may have counted in multiples of six.
Stennes had
twelve. The inner and outer rings at Balfarg have been computed at
twenty-four and twelve respectively. Twenty-four has been suggested for
Cairnpappel, thirty-six for
Arbor Low, and the same number for the devils
quoits'. (3)
Thom radically suggested that geometry was used in the
design of certain prehistoric
sites. He surveyed hundreds of European megaliths and concluded that
fundamental mathematic principles, based upon a common unit of measurement
(which he called the
megalithic yard),
had been applied in the
design of certain sites. As the megalithic tradition in Europe can be traced
back to at least 4,000 BC, if not earlier still, his work is still not
accepted by most archaeologists, although such a strong presence of
geometry should not be ignored, as is clearly suggests that the design of
many sacred sites seems to have been based on a sophisticated
philosophy of sacred science such as was taught centuries later by the
Pythagorean school.
As
Professor Thom observes in his book Megalithic Sites in Britain
(1967):
“It
is remarkable that one thousand years before the earliest mathematicians
of classical Greece, people in these islands not only had a practical
knowledge of geometry and were capable of setting out elaborate
geometrical designs but could also set out ellipses based on the
Pythagorean triangles.”
(More about prehistoric geometry)
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The Orkneys Complex: Comparisons with other
European Complexes.
There are several noticeable
similarities between the megalithic structures of the Orkneys, and those
found at other contemporary European complexes. In particular, there are
some distinct examples of art and design which appear common to the Irish
passage mounds, such as those of the Boyne Valley. The discovery at
Knowth of a stone axe-head from the Orkneys confirms this relationship.
There are several fundamental similarities
between the Orkneys 'ceremonial' complex and other contemporary
complexes along the western Atlantic coast. In particular, the Orkneys
provides a perfect example of the two essential components of many
complexes; a prominent mound and circle in close proximity to each
other. The mound, which can be seen as the 'primal hill', is often
realised in the form of a passage mound although regional variations
exist such as at Avebury/Silbury.
On the Orkneys, the
monuments were constructed so as to merge with the landscape, in such a
way that the stones compliment their backgrounds. The same sensitivity
is seen at other megalithic sites, but nowhere is it realised quite so
well as on the Orkneys. The creation of these large-scale civil
constructions represents a form of higher communication between
ourselves and the universe we live in. Their intimate connection with
the living landscape into which we place them connects us to the earth,
and their invariable orientation towards Solar and Lunar events brings
us into time, with the visibly beating heart of the universe.
Other Similarities:
Both
Gavr'inis
in France and
Newgrange
in Ireland were built at around the same
time as Orkneys monuments (c. 3,100 BC).
Along with Maes Howe, they all have their passages aligned
to mark the winter solstice. (Close to the Moons eastern major standstill).
This single alignment offers the potential for the realisation of the
Metonic cycle.
(More about
Prehistoric Astronomy)
As well as astronomical orientation,
the Maes Howe passage mound has several specific construction features
which are common with other European passage mounds, such as their
rounded shape, lowered passageway with raised internal chambers,
cruciform chambers, stone libation bowls and an absence of
contemporary funerary remains.
(Similarities between European
passage mounds)
The interior floor-level of both
Gavr'inis and
Newgrange were raised
towards the centres. At Newgrange, the upwards-sloping passage narrows
the beam of light into a thin strip. In fact, the only light that would
have originally been able to enter the internal chambers would have come
through the 'light-box', above the passage entrance.
Light-boxes are a megalithic construction feature
that have so far only been recorded at three (possibly four) sites
in the UK, with two in Ireland (Newgrange and
Carrowkeel
- see below)
both having the same design, and the other two on the
Orkneys in Scotland.
This particular connection is very specific.
(More
about Light-boxes)
Spiral Art.
The 'Westray Stone', from Pierowall
(left). The Eday Manse stone, Isle of Eday.
(right).
Bugibba, Malta, (Left), Newgrange,
Ireland (right).
(Neolithic Complexes: Similarities between European Sites)
(Other Scottish Sites)
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