An aerial view showing the sea-threatened remains in the Links of Noltland. © Historic Scotland
Archaeological investigations at a Neolithic site in the Orkneys have been extended following a series of surprise discoveries.
The Links of Noltland initially attracted attention when Scotland’s oldest figure, dating back around 5,000 years, was recently discovered there.
The area chosen for this year’s dig was thought to contain one farmhouse but three more have since been found. One house contains around ten cow skulls that appear to have been laid out ritualistically with their horns dug into the ground.
Richard Strachan, senior archaeologist with the Historic Scotland cultural resources team, said: “The site has turned out to be far larger than we thought so we have decided to extend this year’s excavation for an extra three weeks, taking it to the end of September.
“We very much want to investigate the additional buildings which have been identified, especially following this remarkable find of the cows’ skulls, which were all placed upside down along the inside of the wall, some of them interlocking.”
Members of the Ease Archaeology team carrying out the excavation on behalf of Historic Scotland have been running a popular daily blog, which has been hosted by the Westray Heritage Centre website.
Nancy Scott, a director of the centre, said: “The discovery of the human figurine was very exciting and the excavation is doing a great deal to highlight the significance of our island’s archaeology.
“We are delighted to be hosting the blog, and that it is proving so popular, as the whole aim of our centre is to promote the geography, history and way of life of Westray.”
