The Orkney Islands, an archipelago of 70 islands off the northeastern coast of Scotland, has what some consider to be the greatest concentration of archaeological sites in Scotland. Here, in the eastern part of the main island, archaeologists have uncovered what they believe to be a Pictish (3rd-8th centuries AD) carved stone with a dragon motif. As Nick Card, Senior Projects Manager at Orkney Research Center for Archaeology (ORCA), states, “Carved Pictish Cross Slabs are rare across Scotland with only 2 having been discovered in Orkney. This is therefore a significant find and allows us to examine a piece of art from a period when Orkney society was beginning to embrace Christianity.” Please see the complete article from Heritage Daily here.
On Far Horizons’ newly-redesigned The Riches of Scotland tour we spend two full days visiting the Neolithic sites on Orkney, including a specially-arranged tour at Ness of Brodgar (pictured above) with archaeologist Nick Card. Starting in Glasgow, our 16-day itinerary will uncover Scotland’s fascinating history with visits to glorious abbeys and cathedrals, medieval castles, prehistoric stone circles and chambered cairns, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Edinburgh.
