Stenness pupils tackle Neolithic roofing and walls

Our education officer, Katy Firth, has been working with Stenness Primary School on a project focused on Stenness: Past, Present & Future. 

After an introduction to the Ness of Brodgar excavations, the youngsters prioritised the topics they wanted to concentrate on. Since September they have been exploring some of the materials used at the Neolithic complex, including methods of processing clay, using flint scrapers to remove bark from twigs and experimenting with roof truss designs on models of Structure Eight. 

As well as a Neolithic resources orienteering activity run by Katy, the project also saw a firemaking session with Orkney Islands Council’s outdoor education instructor. Most recently, the Historic Environment Scotland stonemason team led a session in dry-stone wall construction – the premise of which has not changed since the Ness of Brodgar structures were built.

After a presentation by Robbie Macvie, HES planning and resources manager for the north region, the pupils got to work building their walls outside. The rain didn’t seem to put them off and they got stuck in. UHI Archaeology Institute postgraduate student, and one of the Ness’ many excavators, Claire Tatlow also came along to share her architecture knowledge.

The project runs until June, with plans for trips, work with the World Heritage Site Gateway project team and a chance the pupils to share what they’ve been learning with the wider community and our tourist visitors. Watch this space.

Braving the elements – wall building under way outside the Stenness school. (📷 Katy Firth)