Who lived in the Knap of Howar?
The Knap o’ Howar, Papay These structures, two oblong, stone-built houses, date from approximately 3,600 BC and were continuously occupied by a series of Neolithic farmers for at least five centuries.
What was the Knap of Howar used for?
The Knap of Howar is a Neolithic site on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland. The name is Old Norse for `mound of mounds’ or `large barrow’. The building preserved at the site is considered the oldest stone house in northern Europe and is dated to 3700-3500 BCE.
Can I visit the Knap of Howar?
Knap of Howar is free to visit and open year-round.
What is Knap of Howar made of?
The Knap of Howar consists of two ‘houses’ with surviving stone cupboards and stalls. They date back to the third millennium BC – contemporary with Orkney chambered tombs, such as Midhowe. The two houses are the best preserved and most visible early Neolithic settlement anywhere in north-western Europe.
Who discovered the Knap of Howar?
The buildings on the island’s west coast were first excavated in 1929 when the owner of the land, William Traill, found evidence of well-built, stone walls. The underlying building showed two stone-built structures, placed side-by-side and linked by a passage through the joined walls.
How was the Knap of Howar built?
They were constructed on an earlier midden, and were surrounded by midden material which has protected them. There are no windows; the structures were presumably lit by fire, with a hole in the roof to let out smoke. Though they now stand close to the shore, they would have originally lain inland.
What did the Knap of Howar look like?
The Knap of Howar comprises the substantially complete walls and stone fittings of two side-by-side Neolithic buildings. They’re both oblong-shaped and stand just over 1.6m tall, with intact entrances. They’re linked by a short passage.
How old is Knap of Howar?
5,721Knap of Howar / Age (c. 3700 BC)
How big is the Knap of Howar?
They were excavated in the 1930s and 1970s. The walls reach a maximum of 1.6 metres with the largest encompassing an area of 10 metres by 5.0 metres and the smaller 7.5 metres by 3 metres, with upright slabs dividing them into rooms.