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First batch are from Skara Brae. Believed to date from 3,000 BCE, it predates the Pyramids, and is Northern Europe’s oldest known settlement. Evidence suggest the inhabitants did some farming, but also relied on hunting and fishing. Seems to have been occupied for around 600 years, before being abandoned.
Nobody is sure why it was abandoned, and there are various theories I’ll let you look into for yourself.
Then there’s a funny church name, because I’m a child.
Then? Something interesting. Kilbuster Farm, a traditional Orcadian farming homestead. First buildings date to approx 1700, and was occupied through to the early 20th century.
What’s remarkable when you visit is just how close it is to Skara Brae. The rooms have become squared, with gable roofing and mortar used in the construction. But the layout is practically identical, down to the stone box beds, and sideboards etc being built into the wall. Given Skara Brae wasn’t rediscovered for another couple of centuries or so, it gives you an idea of the traditional Orcadian building techniques, and how far they go back.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/13 10:14:06
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[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
Super fun fact? My distant relatives on my Dad’s side (common Great Great Grandfather, who had 14 kids…..) own a farm just the other side of the fence from Skara Brae.
As kids, they used to play hide and seek in it. Which I have to say sounds a pretty ace childhood!
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Iron_Captain wrote: Hiya!
I love history and I am sure many of you do too. So let's talk about our favorite historical settings!
My favorite historical setting is the Migration Period and early European Middle Ages (roughly 400-1000 AD), the time period which is sometimes referred to as "the Dark Ages".
I like to Fast Castle into Knights.
Edit: Apologies in advance. I laughed hard at that thought. I had to say it.
Ha! Had a double take there. I wonder if the black powder rocket launchers were actually a thing though. Seemed a bit too game-y to be historical fact.
Faithful... Enlightened... Ambitious... Brethren... WE NEED A NEW DRIVER! THIS ONE IS DEAD!
I'm an archaeologist working on ancient socialisation processes in West Asia, primarily in the late Early Bronze Age to Middle Bronze Age in North Mesopotamia and Anatolia (kinda 2500-1800BCE-ish) and Iron II Southern Levant (mostly the Kingdom of Judah, so 8th to early 6th centuries BCE). The excavations I work on stretch from the Chacolithic to the Roman period, though they're dominated by the Late Bronze and Iron Age.
I dunno if I have a favourite period as such. Probably the Iron Age Levant because I've been working on it longer. The material culture is interesting and the textual sources are cool - plus I can read them whereas I don't read Sumerian or Akkadian.
I have 2 fairly distinct facets to the history I love reading.
First is the time period of the 1400s-1600s. I found that basically all of my uni courses in European history tended to end at the beginning of the 30 years war, or they started just at the conclusion of it. Its a massive conflict that have profound effects on our world. Sort of secondary piece to that are things like the Italian Wars and the Peasant Revolt of 1525. Reading of the Landsknechte and the Swiss Mercenaries, and the Spanish Tercios and all of them I find fascinating.
The other distinct area I enjoy reading, on the surface sounds dumb, but is becoming quite an in depth area of respect in academia, and that is sports history. In undergrad I did a research paper on Irish Football (it became both Association and Rugby very quickly) and social attitudes. Other books on my shelf relating to sports history include volumes on the history of the Le Mans 24h race, rugby, cycling and the Tour de France, and, because I'm American, books on baseball and american football.
First batch are from Skara Brae. Believed to date from 3,000 BCE, it predates the Pyramids, and is Northern Europe’s oldest known settlement. Evidence suggest the inhabitants did some farming, but also relied on hunting and fishing. Seems to have been occupied for around 600 years, before being abandoned.
Nobody is sure why it was abandoned, and there are various theories I’ll let you look into for yourself.
Then there’s a funny church name, because I’m a child.
Then? Something interesting. Kilbuster Farm, a traditional Orcadian farming homestead. First buildings date to approx 1700, and was occupied through to the early 20th century.
What’s remarkable when you visit is just how close it is to Skara Brae. The rooms have become squared, with gable roofing and mortar used in the construction. But the layout is practically identical, down to the stone box beds, and sideboards etc being built into the wall. Given Skara Brae wasn’t rediscovered for another couple of centuries or so, it gives you an idea of the traditional Orcadian building techniques, and how far they go back.
Thanks a lot for sharing the photos! Skara Brae is such a cool site. It is pretty much every archaeologist's dream to discover something like that.
Also, that church really does have an unfortunate name
nfe wrote: I'm an archaeologist working on ancient socialisation processes in West Asia, primarily in the late Early Bronze Age to Middle Bronze Age in North Mesopotamia and Anatolia (kinda 2500-1800BCE-ish) and Iron II Southern Levant (mostly the Kingdom of Judah, so 8th to early 6th centuries BCE). The excavations I work on stretch from the Chacolithic to the Roman period, though they're dominated by the Late Bronze and Iron Age.
I dunno if I have a favourite period as such. Probably the Iron Age Levant because I've been working on it longer. The material culture is interesting and the textual sources are cool - plus I can read them whereas I don't read Sumerian or Akkadian.
That is a really interesting field. I'd love to do field work in Anatolia or the Levant some day, but I am probably going to be stuck in the thick clay and mud of northwestern Europe for the foreseeable future. The archaeology here is interesting enough, but glacial soils are just the worst! Even just thinking about having to dig through thick layers of boulder clay makes my back hurt.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/14 01:58:06
Generally i prefer the saddletime aka 1750- 1850 really locally.
I also always had a fascination with "antiquity aka before romans during romans and shortly before after romans
1900- 1990 is also rather fascinating.
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/766717.page A Mostly Renegades and Heretics blog.
GW:"Space marines got too many options to balance, therefore we decided to legends HH units." Players: "why?!? Now we finally got decent plastic kits and you cut them?" Chaos marines players: "Since when are Daemonengines 30k models and why do i have NO droppods now?" GW" MONEY.... erm i meant TOO MANY OPTIONS (to resell your army to you again by disalowing former units)! Do you want specific tyranid fighiting Primaris? Even a new sabotage lieutnant!" Chaos players: Guess i stop playing or go to HH.
That is a really interesting field. I'd love to do field work in Anatolia or the Levant some day, but I am probably going to be stuck in the thick clay and mud of northwestern Europe for the foreseeable future. The archaeology here is interesting enough, but glacial soils are just the worst! Even just thinking about having to dig through thick layers of boulder clay makes my back hurt.
I'm sure nfe will agree with me but back pain will never leave you when you're an archaeologist. I'm 6'3 so I'm constantly bending over to dig. There's a reason why dwarves are always good miners because it's far less distance to the bloody ground.
Closest a society ever came to Capitalism. Unrestrained minds catapulted individuals to the greatest humanity has ever seen. We've been in a slow slide back into the dark ages ever since.
Ayn Rand "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality"
Closest a society ever came to Capitalism. Unrestrained minds catapulted individuals to the greatest humanity has ever seen. We've been in a slow slide back into the dark ages ever since.
I think the elimination of slavery and sweatshops and child labor, and establishment of worker safety laws and such have been overwhelmingly positive developments even if it’s made us less “capitalistic”.
Closest a society ever came to Capitalism. Unrestrained minds catapulted individuals to the greatest humanity has ever seen. We've been in a slow slide back into the dark ages ever since.
Probably Three Kingdoms era of China overall and aye the novel has probably tainted the perceptions of the actual history of the time, but its still a damned interesting period.
Also interested in the Hundred Years war, Napoleonic era, WW2 and to a lesser degree the English Civil War and the War of the Roses.
Removing conflict, period wise for the style of buildings, I am a big fan of Medieval castles (Castles of all types really) and Tudor Architecture.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/15 19:48:02
"That's not an Ork, its a girl.." - Last words of High General Daran Ul'tharem, battle of Ursha VII.
Two White Horses (Ipswich Town and Denver Broncos Supporter)
Closest a society ever came to Capitalism. Unrestrained minds catapulted individuals to the greatest humanity has ever seen. We've been in a slow slide back into the dark ages ever since.
I think the elimination of slavery and sweatshops and child labor, and establishment of worker safety laws and such have been overwhelmingly positive developments even if it’s made us less “capitalistic”.
Especially since if we're considering 'free market' part of the capitalist ideal, no point in that time range was even close. If anything the entire later half of that range was defined by pervasive corruption, bribery, and a very unfree market (not to mention a peak era in political rigging). Turns out you can get ultra rich really fast if you're just willing to bribe politicians with no scruples and own a newspaper that will defend you from anything cause you pay the bills. This statement is not applicable to the present. No sir. That would break forum rules
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2021/07/15 20:25:19
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
After my visit to Orkney, I’m increasingly fascinated with Neolithic Scotland.
I mean, it’s hard not to be. Not only am I likely related to them, however distantly, we know so very little I’ll seize on any scrap of knowledge to understand where it came from, and why it’s accepted or not accepted in suitably educated circles.
To revisit my initial source of interest? Skara Brae was seemingly abandoned in a hurry. Yet, following proper excavation, there were no signs of weapons.
Now given the site was looted (possibly by direct ancestors of mine…..) in 1913, it is of course possible any weapons or traces thereof were removed or destroyed in the effort.
But let’s say for the point of interest there were none? That’s a very interesting thought. It strongly suggests that Neolithic Orkney was a veritable Horn of Plenty, where the various communities (Ring of Brodgar’s 60 original stones are from the same number of different locations, suggesting the same number of communities coming together to build it) live in peace together.
This is particularly appealing having visited Orkney. Regardless that sea levels and the landscape have changed since Neolithic times, it was still dotted with salt water bays, freshwater Lochs and brackish water meeting points between the two, seafood would likely have been plentiful.
Even today, the land is pretty rich for growing crops. And back then, there’s strong evidence of plentiful and pretty standard European Game Species.
Plentiful food. Plentiful fresh water. Relatively few humans living on the main Island (there’s only 25,000 or so even in the modern era). No real casus beli. Especially as given its quite small size, it seems entirely possible the various communities had ties of blood as well as trade.
Of course that state of affairs could never last, even without external actors. And again, the lack of weaponry found at Skara Brae is hardly proof that human on human violence was unheard of.
But it’s still an interesting thought.
The most amazing thing to me? The Ring of Brodgar is surrounded by a Henge (ditch)….which was excavated using tools no more sophisticated than a Deer Antler on a Stick. And it’s flipping huge.
If anyone has even a passing interest in anything Neolithic, Orkney is most definitely the place to visit these days. More so when COVID restrictions are fully lifted in Scotland.
One thing I didn’t get to see is The Tomb of the Eagles This site is, or more accurately was, genuinely run by a (again distant) family member. Due to COVID they just couldn’t use the wee trolley thing to let people in, rendering the whole thing moot, especially as can’t be bothered to re-open it right now*. And given the wounds detected on the Skellingtons found therein rather scotches (lol. No seriously. Never, ever refer to anything as being scotch when in Scotland. Just….don’t.) my “lovely hippie pacifist Scotland drivel just above )
*reckon I could swing a visit, but you’re poop out of luck, my friend!
Automatically Appended Next Post: And to be honest, the highlight of the various guides to the places I visited were the honest “well we don’t know, and we’ll likely never know” type answers.
That’s not to say they’re not aware of various suggestions and theories. They’re just being completely honest about what is Detective Work, what is an Informed Guess, and what is “well, it’s a good story…..” about such things.
And if you’re lucky enough to visit Kirbuster Farm Museum, enjoy the hosts thick Orcadian accent.
Here’s the man himself. I’m a Scot, born and bred (though lived in England for 30 years less a month or two), and I have to concentrate. And yes, this is him doing a guided tour of Kirbuster Farm (which is very generously lit for the video! It’s proper dark and smoky in real life)
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2021/07/16 20:38:53
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Of course that state of affairs could never last, even without external actors. And again, the lack of weaponry found at Skara Brae is hardly proof that human on human violence was unheard of.
Yeah, afaik there is little evidence for large scale violence in the Neolithic, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. The same was once thought of the Bronze Age in northern Europe, that it was a peaceful time with people mostly concerned with farming and trading and no real reason to wage war. But increasing finds of weapons and fortifications made that hypothesis less and less tenable, and the discovery of sites like the Tollense battlefield completely shattered it. Tollense was once the site of a massive battle between thousands of combatants from all over Europe. Pretty epic stuff: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle
Also, from that article:
An experimental archaeologist also plunged recreated flint and bronze points into dead pigs and recorded the damage.
Experimental archaeologists really do the wackiest stuff in the name of science
Experimental Archeologist remind me more of Conscripts over here, except in the name of science they do wierd things and not to stave of boredom.
Also, probably one of the most interesting parts of archeology, atleast more fun then simply digging more or less
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/07/19 08:07:33
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/766717.page A Mostly Renegades and Heretics blog.
GW:"Space marines got too many options to balance, therefore we decided to legends HH units." Players: "why?!? Now we finally got decent plastic kits and you cut them?" Chaos marines players: "Since when are Daemonengines 30k models and why do i have NO droppods now?" GW" MONEY.... erm i meant TOO MANY OPTIONS (to resell your army to you again by disalowing former units)! Do you want specific tyranid fighiting Primaris? Even a new sabotage lieutnant!" Chaos players: Guess i stop playing or go to HH.
[DCM]
Chief Deputy Sub Assistant Trainee Squig Handling Intern
This is why I love Time Team, a British archeology show.
It’s coming back on YouTube, which is nice.
It was massively successful because it kept things informative, but in an accessible way.
Tony Robinson hosted, and would ask pertinent questions as the audience’s proxy. So when someone pulled out a piece of pottery, and dated it there and then “oh come on, how could you possibly know that”. Then would come a pretty decent explanation of the ins and outs.
That is a really interesting field. I'd love to do field work in Anatolia or the Levant some day, but I am probably going to be stuck in the thick clay and mud of northwestern Europe for the foreseeable future. The archaeology here is interesting enough, but glacial soils are just the worst! Even just thinking about having to dig through thick layers of boulder clay makes my back hurt.
I'm sure nfe will agree with me but back pain will never leave you when you're an archaeologist. I'm 6'3 so I'm constantly bending over to dig. There's a reason why dwarves are always good miners because it's far less distance to the bloody ground.
Who knows? It's been years since I've done substantial digging. I point lasers, take photos, and wander around with an RTK, these days!
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
One thing I didn’t get to see is The Tomb of the Eagles This site is, or more accurately was, genuinely run by a (again distant) family member. Due to COVID they just couldn’t use the wee trolley thing to let people in, rendering the whole thing moot, especially as can’t be bothered to re-open it right now*.
It's closed permanently. The kids don't want to take over and HES don't want it apparently. A real shame because there's not much else to take tourists out to that part of Orkney.
It was massively successful because it kept things informative, but in an accessible way.
Tony Robinson hosted, and would ask pertinent questions as the audience’s proxy. So when someone pulled out a piece of pottery, and dated it there and then “oh come on, how could you possibly know that”. Then would come a pretty decent explanation of the ins and outs.
It is both very good and also not good at the same time
To be honest the only real concerns are from a professional point of view, for people genuinely interested it's a great resource. Very relaxed show, at one point some really good people on there.
The reason it wasn't reproduced is because of the law regarding archaeology in other countries, which is considerably different to the UK.
!950s America, because men were men and women were women, plus the prospect of nuclear destruction made everyone secretly horny (or so I am told). Maybe I've just been seduced by Fallout games. To be really honest, I'm more intrigued by the future and our potential colonization of other parts of space (if humanity doesn't die first).
Tazok wrote: !950s America, because men were men and women were women, plus the prospect of nuclear destruction made everyone secretly horny (or so I am told). Maybe I've just been seduced by Fallout games. To be really honest, I'm more intrigued by the future and our potential colonization of other parts of space (if humanity doesn't die first).
Well, to the first part, the Friends of Dorothy give an adorable wave.
To the second, I'm sure the remote controlled drones will have a nice life as interplanetary litter.
Faithful... Enlightened... Ambitious... Brethren... WE NEED A NEW DRIVER! THIS ONE IS DEAD! 
)
