Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead
Early Neolithic (3700–3500 BCE)·Orcadian Neolithic·🇬🇧 Orkney, Papa Westray, United Kingdom
About
About Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead
Papa's famous early houses excavated by Traill & Kirkness 1929–30, dated 3700 BCE, older than Skara Brae, preserved under machair dunes. Recorded context — Period: Early Neolithic (3700–3500 BCE); Culture: Orcadian Neolithic; Field status: excavated; Materials: flagstone, midden, shell; Condition: preserved — roofed.
Why it mattersKey Orcadian Neolithic ancient-village with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Function of enclosure
Theories
- 01Observatory
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3700 BCE
- Period
- Early Neolithic (3700–3500 BCE)
- Culture
- Orcadian Neolithic
- Purpose
- Earliest standing houses in northern Europe — two stone farmstead houses with Unstan bowls
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1952
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3700 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead
On the ground
Structures & features
59.3510° N · 2.9110° W · 11 m · 3 mapped features
- Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — subsidiary complex59.3515° N · 2.9120° W
- Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — Northern Complexcomplexcomplex at Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — subsidiary complex59.3512° N · 2.9111° W
- Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — Southern Rock Artrock artrock art at Knap of Howar Papa Westray Farmstead — primary structure59.3511° N · 2.9115° W
Gallery