Barnhouse Settlement

About

The Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement is sited by the shore of Loch of Harray, Orkney Mainland, Scotland, not far from the Standing Stones of Stenness, about 5 miles north-east of Stromness. It was discovered in 1984 by Colin Richards. Excavations were conducted between 1986 and 1991, over time revealing the base courses of at least 15 houses.

The houses have similarities to those of the early phase of the better-known settlement at Skara Brae in that they have central hearths, beds built against the walls and stone dressers, and internal drains, but differ in that the houses seem to have been free-standing. The settlement dates back to around 3000 BC. Pottery of the grooved ware type was found, as at the Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae.

Flint and stone tools were found, as well as a piece of pitchstone thought to have come from the Isle of Arran. The largest of the original buildings was House 2. It was double-sized, featuring a higher building standard than the other houses and unlike the others was rebuilt up to five times.

House 2 seems to have remained in use throughout the inhabited period of the settlement. The houses were clustered around a central open area which was divided...