Cover Story…
Take a trip back in time by getting up close and personal with prehistoric Scottish artefacts and sites dating back centuries
Discover some of Scotland’s top prehistoric sites
CREEPING through a tunnel to reach a chambered cairn – built to house human remains, raptors’ bones and axe heads – sounds like something Indiana Jones would do.
Yet, although much of Scotland’s incredible heritage is safely tucked behind glass with “do not touch” signs, there are still places across the country where budding adventurers can get hands-on and touch the past.
As you approach the Tomb of the Eagles on South Ronaldsay, Orkney, you would be forgiven for thinking it is going to be underwhelming pile of stones which only an archaeologist with three Phds could appreciate.
But after walking across fields and reaching the grass-covered mound, a sense of adventure begins. There is a small opening, just big enough for an adult to crawl through. In front sits a kind of large skateboard attached to a rope, which you lie on, using the rope to pull yourself inside the Stone Age structure.
With thoughts of the 85 ancient skulls found within, it can be a scary proposition. If you are a 10-year-old boy, however, like my son, it’s the start of an amazing adventure. Just touching the stones which were crafted so long ago fires the imagination. Orkney farmer Ronnie Simison discovered the Tomb of the Eagles by chance in the 1950s, with vaults of bones and artefacts revealed.
It is still looked after by Ronnie’s family and is just as “hands-on” as when they first explored it. Scotland is blessed with many structures dating back millennia. There are loads of sites that can be touched, explored and even clambered over – some have an entrance fee but many can be found on paths, in fields or by the coast. Here are some of the best...