Visiting the Orkney Islands is like stepping back in time — either thousands of years to the Neolithic period or just hundreds of years to the age of the Vikings.
Though small, the island boasts four UNESCO World Heritage sites. Skara Brae is a stone village where people lived around 5,000 years ago in the Neolithic period. The 10 houses are a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Britain’s ancestors.
The iconic Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic stone circle, possibly built at the same time as Stonehenge. Out of the original 60 stones, only 27 still stand. Why was it built? For religious reasons? To help read the nighttime sky? No one knows. The second World Heritage site is nearby: the Neolithic Barnhouse settlement.
Another stone circle — perhaps the oldest in Britain — is the Standing Stones of Stenness, about 1.2 km away from Brodgar.
The fourth World Heritage site is Maeshowe, a chambered tomb covered by stones. Grass and earth have covered the tomb, but it still stands more than 7 meters high. The tomb is seen as a masterpiece of Neolithic engineering. In the eighth and ninth centuries, Vikings scribbled graffiti onto the tomb.
The Orkneys have a strong link to the early Vikings, who settled in the islands in the late eighth century. Many Orkney Islanders have Viking blood and are proud of their heritage.
One of the most important Viking sites is St. Magnus Cathedral, built over the course of 300 years from 1137. The Viking saint was killed in a round church nearby. That church is the start of a walking trail that takes in many Viking spots. (T)
◆The audience listened closely to the professor’s fascinating lecture.
◆glimpse the past（過去を垣間見る）
◆This preserved house offers a glimpse into the life of a 19th-century family.
◆The final settlement date for our new house is on March 31st.
◆This tomb is rumored to be the resting place of an ancient king.
◆I could barely read the notes that I scribbled down during the seminar.
◆This church is dedicated to a local saint.
◆trail in a park（公園の小道）
◆This hiking trail is not suitable for beginner hikers.
How many stones does the Ring of Brodgar currently have?
Would you be interested in visiting the Orkney Islands? Why? Why not?
Yes, I would. I’m interested in history, so I would love to visit such an ancient place.
What's the oldest place you've ever visited? How was the experience?
The oldest place I have visited is Horyuji Temple in Nara. I was amazed that such an old wooden building is still standing today.
What kind of people were your ancestors? Do you know anything about them?
My ancestors on my father’s side were samurai. I feel proud to come from a samurai family.