Barnhouse Settlement, Neolithic archaeological site near Loch of Harray, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Barnhouse Settlement is a Neolithic site with the remains of about 15 stone houses arranged around a central area. The visible foundations and room divisions reveal how people structured their homes and organized their living spaces 5000 years ago.
Excavations between 1986 and 1991 dated the structures to around 3000 BC, making this settlement significantly older than the nearby Skara Brae community. The discovery shows that people were living in this region much earlier than previously understood.
The buildings show how people organized their homes with central hearths, stone furniture, and drainage systems that still surprise visitors with their practicality. These features reveal daily routines and suggest a community that valued order and comfort in their domestic spaces.
The site sits roughly 150 meters from the Standing Stones of Stenness and remains accessible year-round. A footpath from the main road leads directly to the site, making it easy to visit alongside nearby attractions.
Structure Eight was built long after the original settlement was abandoned and has unusually thick walls of about 3 meters. The entrance was deliberately positioned to capture the midsummer sunset, suggesting the builders had a connection to seasonal events.
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