Experts hope to unearth clues to Neolithic life and people

Published on Monday 13 July 2009 20:34

EXPERTS hope to unearth more secrets from one of Orkney's richest – and most threatened – archaeological sites.

The Neolithic settlement at the Links of Noltland, on the island of Westray, is under attack from severe wind erosion which is causing the collapse of the dune system that has protected it for thousands of years.

It is regarded as important because extensive evidence has survived from the Neolithic era through to the Bronze Age, giving clues about the people who lived there.

The main aim of this year's work, due to run until next month, is to uncover the full extent of a Neolithic building which still survives to five courses high, and the adjacent field system.

Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland's head of cultural resources, said: "The Links of Noltland is a very exciting site because it contains such a rich variety of well-preserved evidence for how people lived in Orkney over a very long period of time. The severe wind erosion and the destruction of the dune system also means it is under great threat.

"In recent years we have carried out emergency excavations in parts of the site where the archaeology has been uncovered, then rapidly blown away by the wind. The surface levels now exposed are of around 3,000BC and we are keen to learn all we can before the evidence is lost."

The site contains a valuable combination of buildings, field systems, waste products, artefacts and bones.

Mr Yeoman added: "Taken together these elements can give a picture of how people lived, their diet, agriculture, farming and living arrangements.

"Our main aim this year is to uncover the full extent of the Neolithic building which we began work on last year, and its relationship to the adjacent field system. We know it was large and well-built, in a way that was meant to be seen and admired, so we want to find out as much as possible about what it was for."