orkney-shetland-1946-vol-1/05-025

Transcription

INTRODUCTION
TO THE
INVENTORY OF ANCIENT AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
AND CONSTRUCTIONS IN ORKNEY AND SHETLAND

GENERAL

The most remarkable feature of the present Inventory is the wealth of archæo-
logical remains, especially those dating from the era of the megalithic monuments.
Nor is this really surprising, seeing that in early prehistoric times Orkney and Shetland
were more accessible to those in search of a home than were many parts of the interior
of Great Britain. Save for the crossing of the English Channel, one could hug the
shore all the way from the south of Spain through the Hebrides to Caithness, and we
know from the distribution of megalithic tombs in Scotland that this must have been
the main route followed by their builders. Thereafter, although the currents and tide-
rips of the Pentland Firth would prevent small primitive craft from making anything
like a direct passage, the distance from Duncansby Head in Caithness to Brough Ness
in South Ronaldsay is just over six miles as the crow flies, Again, while it is true that
North Ronaldsay is separated from Sumburgh Head in Shetland by fifty miles of open
water, Fair Isle, which is in full view of both, provides a convenient stepping-stone.
Given reasonable visibility, therefore, it would be possible to sail from Gibraltar to
the Muckle Flugga without losing sight of land, a consideration in the first importance
when navigation was in infancy. The two groups of islands were this closely
connected with the western European seaboard. They are usually spoken of together and those who have never seen them are apt