Skara Brae, Stone Age settlement in Orkney Islands, Scotland.
The collection of eight connected dwellings features stone furniture, central hearths, and covered passageways linking individual residences in a compact village layout.
Discovered in 1850 when a storm removed sand layers, this settlement dates from 3180 BCE, preceding both the construction of Stonehenge and Egyptian pyramids.
Each residence contains stone dressers positioned opposite entrances, demonstrating standardized interior arrangements that reveal structured social patterns of Neolithic inhabitants.
The site opens daily from 9:30, with extended hours until 17:30 during summer months and shorter hours until 16:30 in winter season.
The settlement incorporated an advanced drainage system with designated waste channels in each house that connected to a central sewage passage.
Location: Orkney Islands
Location: Sandwick
Inception: 3180 BCE
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Part of: Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Opening Hours: Summer 1 April - 30 September, Monday-Sunday 09:30-17:30; Winter 1 October - 31 March, Monday-Sunday 09:30-16:30
Phone: +441856841815
GPS coordinates: 59.04871,-3.34175
Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:47
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