Skara Brae

Skara Brae is a stone-built Neolithic settlement located along the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney [1]. The site was discovered following a storm exposing the presence of stone structures within the coastal sand dunes [1]. The site was occupied from roughly 3180 BC to around 2500 BC and is Europe's most complete Neolithic village [1]. Skara Brae gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status as one of four sites making up "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney" [1]. The inhabitants of Skara Brae were makers and users of grooved ware, a distinctive style of pottery that had recently appeared in northern Scotland [1]. The buildings follow a similar layout with a central hearth, beds on either side of the hearth, and a dresser opposite the entrance [1].