In the north-east of Scotland, there is the Shetland Islands archipelago, including Mainland. In the southern part of this island is one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole of Great Britain - Jarlshof. It represents the ruins of settlements that were located in this area from about the 25th century BC to the 17th century AD. This monument is also the most studied of all prehistoric structures in Scotland.
In general, the entire Shetland Islands archipelago includes more than a hundred islands. But only twelve are inhabited. And although these islands belong to the state of Great Britain, they have a completely unique pristine appearance. Mainland is the largest island and can be reached by ferry from Aberdeen or by plane - there is Samborough Airport at Samborough Head in southern Mainland. This airport is where planes land every day from London, Glasgow, Edinburgh or Inverness.
The first inhabitants appeared on the islands of the archipelago around 2500 BC. People preferred to settle and build their dwellings, as a rule, on the coastal territories. During the Bronze Age, small houses appeared, which were distinguished by an oval or round layout. These buildings have thick walls and are built of stone. They are also called wheel houses, with a diameter ranging from 4 to 11.5 meters. There is an assumption that the wheel-shaped houses did not serve as a dwelling for people, but as a place for various rituals. In Jarlshof, tourists can see not only these structures of the Bronze Age, but also some artifacts from the same time.
Later, in the Iron Age, brooches began to appear here, which in translation from Old Norse means "fortress". These brooches can only be seen in Scotland, where there are no more than a hundred of them in total. These first fortresses were laid out using the dry masonry method. Also, since the Iron Age, a protective wall around the former settlement has been preserved in Jarlshof.
Later, these lands were inhabited by the Picts - the most ancient of all known peoples living in the territory of modern Scotland. It is not exactly established from whom these Picts originated: from the Celts, Proto-Indo-Europeans or the inhabitants of Iberia. But they also left a trace on the territory of Jarlshof - painted pebbles and a Pictish symbolic stone - a vertically standing megalith, on which ornaments and drawings are applied.
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From the Viking Age, the largest ruins in Britain have survived, among which is the so-called long house. This architectural structure is a narrow structure with a single space, which the Vikings and Germanic peoples also called the honey or beer hall. During archaeological excavations near this long house, various types of tools were found, which can be used to judge the life of the population living in the Shetland Islands.
It is interesting that the name "Jarlshof" is not historical. It was invented by Walter Scott, who thus named the castle of the Scottish period in his novel "Pirate". In addition to this attraction on Mainland Island, you can see the picturesque lighthouse built in 1821. It is located at Cape Samborough Head.