Orkney: Scara Brae Neolithic Settlement
And the last of the four UNESCO-listed neolithic sites on Orkney is Skara Brae. This is really a small village, a cluster of ten houses, built into the ground close to each other and even possessing a primitive prehistoric sewer system – a system of ditches flushing into the ocean (world’s earliest toilet?). The settlement dates back to 3180 BC to 2500 BC and is considered Europe’s most well-preserved Neolithic village, older then Stonehenge or Egyptian pyramids. These really were complete houses with kitchen areas and bedrooms, and even some prehistoric pottery was found here. The visitor center has a reconstructed house as well. The setting is also spectacular – right next to a stunning grey sand beach.
