A small stone marker, found by the inhabitants of the northern Orkney Islands (Scotland) in 2002, attracted the attention of archaeologists, who initiated a full-scale excavation here, as a result of which a complex of Neolithic ritual structures was discovered. Material dedicated to the ritual complex five thousand years ago was published on the Archeology.org portal
Over the years of excavations in the north of the Orkney Islands, archaeologists have found two dozen buildings here, surrounded by a once massive stone fence. The area of the territory of the ritual complex is almost two and a half hectares. Carbon analysis has shown that the complex has been in active use for at least one thousand years, presumably from 3300 to 2300 BC.
The ritual structures, however, could have been used much earlier. The variety of buildings, as noted by scientists, makes it possible to assess the architecture that has changed over time - if the first buildings are mainly circular in shape, then the subsequent buildings are already rectangular.
In addition to buildings, archaeologists discovered numerous artifacts of antiquity on the territory of the complex, for example, fragments of pottery, weapons and various ritual objects. The archaeological site, scientists say, is a prime example of the so-called Neolithic revolution - a process that accompanied the arrival of continental residents to the British Isles 6 thousand years ago.
Kolesnikov Andrey
