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Orkney

Orkney

A Historical Guide

by Caroline Wickham-Jones

Series: Birlinn Historical Guides

Imprint: Birlinn

5.1 x 7.7 in, 12pp b/w maps, diagrams and line art throughout

Paperback
9781780272641
May 2015
In Stock

$15.95

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Description
Authors
Praise

Orkney lies only 20 miles north of mainland Scotland, yet for many centuries its culture was more Scandanavian than Scottish. Strong westerly winds account for the scarcity of trees on Orkney and also for the tradition of well-constructed stone structures.

As a result, the islands boast a large number of exceptionally well-preserved remains, which help us to form a detailed picture of Orcadian life through the ages. Sites and remains to be explored include settlements from the Stone Age, stone circles and burials from the Bronze Age, Iron Age brochs, Viking castles, the magnificent cathedral of St Magnus in Kirkwall, Renaissance palaces, a Martello tower from the Napoleonic Wars and numerous remains from the Second World War.

In this updated edition of her best-selling book, Caroline Wickham-Jones, who has worked extensively on Orcadian sites for many years, introduces the history of the islands and provides a detailed survey of the principal places and sites of historic interest.

Caroline Wickham-Jones studied archaeology at Edinburgh University. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and has conducted research throughout Scotland, Ireland and Scandanavia. She is the author of numerous articles and publications, including Scotland's First Settlers.

Wickham-Jones' clear writing, expertise and obvious enthusiasm for her subject make her brand-new 2015 Guide a must-read for anyone drawn to this approximately 70-island-strong historical treasure trove ~Joan Lennon, History Girls blog

The guide will always be ready to beguile the whimsical reader, or to encourage the curious ~Anne Brundle, Orkney Museum

An unusual combination of illustrated guidebook and in-depth narrative ~Scots Magazine

Should prove to be an extremely useful guide to the exploration of this fascinating group of islands and provides enjoyable background reading for those who plan to visit' ~Scottish Home and Country

Orkney is probably unrivalled in all of Scotland for its abundance of preserved historical sites, and this new and updated edition does justice to the archipelago’s status as a World Heritage Site' ~Press and Journal (Book of the Week)

Wickham-Jones' clear writing, expertise and obvious enthusiasm for her subject make her brand-new 2015 Guide a must-read for anyone drawn to this approximately 70-island-strong historical treasure trove' ~Joan Lennon, History Girls blog