Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement
United Kingdom
Jarlshof is the best-known prehistoric archaeological site in Shetland. It has been described as "one of the most remarkable archaeological sites ever excavated in the British Isles". It contains remains dating from 2500 BC up to the 17th century AD.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Jarlshof, one of the most incredible and inspirational archaeological sites in Scotland. As we stand here at the southern tip of the Shetland Mainland, you are looking at a 'complex of ancient settlements' that span…
Listen in the app2The Neolithic Hearth — The First Farmers
We begin at the earliest level of Jarlshof, dating back to approximately 2,500 BC. Here lies the remains of a Neolithic farmhouse, a structure built around the same time the Great Pyramids were rising in Egypt. …
Listen in the app3The Bronze Age Workshop — Innovation and Trade
As we move chronologically forward to about 800 BC, the architecture changes. The oval Neolithic houses evolved into structures with 'central hearths surrounded by buttress chambers.' This was the Bronze Age, a time of…
Listen in the app4The Iron Age Broch — A Tower of Prestige
Entering the Iron Age at Jarlshof, we encounter the most iconic of Scottish ancient structures: the Broch. Built around the 1st century BC, this was a 'tall double-skin tower' with stairs and galleries between its two walls. …
Listen in the app5The Wheelhouses — Domestic Ingenuity
In the courtyard of the Iron Age broch and on either side of it, you will find 'Wheelhouses,' a type of dwelling unique to the north and west of Scotland. These circular buildings are named for their internal stone piers that…
Listen in the app6The Norse Longhouses — The Viking Takeover
Around 800 AD, Jarlshof underwent a dramatic transformation with the arrival of the Vikings. Everything we have seen so far was round or oval, but the Norse settlers brought a new architectural style: the 'traditional longhouse.'…
Listen in the app7The Medieval Farm and the Laird's House
As we reach the most recent layers of Jarlshof, we encounter the 'medieval farm' and the imposing ruins of the 16th-century 'Laird’s House.' In the 14th century, a new style of building emerged, reflecting Norwegian architectural…
Listen in the app8Final Reflections on the Sands of Time
Standing here at the conclusion of our walk through Jarlshof, it is difficult not to be moved by the sheer continuity of human life. We have seen how Neolithic farmers first recognized the fertility of this land, how Bronze Age…
Listen in the app9Closing
Our scholarly journey through the five thousand years of Jarlshof has reached its end. We have peeled back 'layer after layer of life,' from the 'Neolithic farmhouse' to the 'medieval manor,' witnessing the evolution of human…
Listen in the app
What is Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement?
Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement is a place in United Kingdom with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 59.8691, -1.2906 |
| Last updated |
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