Welcome to Orkneyjar - a website
dedicated to the preserving, exploring and documenting the ancient history, folklore
and traditions of Orkney - a group of islands lying off the northern tip of Scotland,
where the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet.
Until the winter of 1814, approximately 140 metres (150 yards) to the north of the Standing Stones o' Stenness, stood a solitary holed monolith that occupied a special place in the customs, traditions and lore of the Orcadian people.
The potency of the Odin Stone was unparalleled. It was the focus of a number of "magical" rites, the site of an unbreakable oath and was said to possess miraculous healing powers.
One of the best known of Orkney's prehistoric monuments lies on the south-eastern tip of the island of South Ronaldsay.
The Tomb of the Eagles - the Isbister chambered cairn - was uncovered by local farmer Ronald Simison in 1958.
Where many of Orkney's old chambered cairns were found to be empty, the Isbister cairn was filled with over 16,000 assorted bones - belonging to at least 342 people.
But of particular interest was the number of sea-eagle bones that littered the tomb...
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Delving into the history of 'things' — Orkney and Shetland are to be research sites for a major project looking at the way the Viking communities governed themselves and strengthened their groups. (January 22, 2010)
Eyebrows link Westray figurine with burial chamber - As reported on Orkneyjar.com at the time, the "eyes" of the Noltland figurine bear a marked resemblance to the “eyebrow motif” pecked carvings found in the southernmost chambered cairn on the Holm of Papa Westray. (September 18, 2009)
Westray Stone Age carving is a first for Scotland - What has been hailed as Scotland's earliest representation of a human has been unearthed at the Links of Noltland, in Westray. (August 21, 2009)
The unfolding story of the Brough of Deerness - “What we’ve got here is one of the few places in the world where you can walk through the remains of a Viking Age village . . .” The words of Dr James Barrett, as the second year of excavations on the Brough of Deerness drew to a close this week. (July 30, 2009)
The Cantick mound that turned square — The excavations on Cantick, South Walls, concluded last week following the investigation of a Bronze Age burial mound. (July 9, 2009)
Unravelling centuries of Iron Age activity - work continues on an Iron Age site in South Ronaldsay — once again attempting to unravel a complex series of Iron Age buildings clustered around the site of a massive broch-like building. (July 9, 2009)
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Update Schedule
Orkneyjar is generally updated at least once a month - more over the summer excavation season - incorporating new
content with relevant news and information relating to Orkney's rich archaeology,
heritage and history.
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Why Orkneyjar? Find out what
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Orkney Pages.
One of Orkney's most important archaeological finds of the 20th century came to light on the island of 
Until the winter of 1814, approximately 140 metres (150 yards) to the north of the 
One of the best known of Orkney's prehistoric monuments lies on the south-eastern tip of the island of 
To
contact the author about any element of this site, 
