Between the Wind and the Water

 

Between the Wind and the Water: World Heritage Orkney, by Caroline Wickham-Jones, 2015, describes the Neolithic sites in Orkney that were given World Heritage status. Wickham-Jones explains that “the World Heritage Convention seeks to safeguard the well-being of exceptional sites of cultural and natural value.”

In Orkney these sites are all located on the Brodgar peninsula: the settlement Skara Brae; the stone circles Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness; the stone settings called Watch Stone and Barnhouse Stone; and the chambered tomb of Maeshowe. She describes each of these sites in terms of their history, purpose, setting, excavation and significance. The book includes photographs of the sites and their excavations.

In addition, she describes the area and inhabitants in the Mesolithic era that preceded the construction of these sites, as well as the following Bronze and Iron Ages, which saw the arrival of the Picts, the Norse and the Romans.

In each of these sections, there are very good descriptions of how people lived, and how they adapted to the changing landscape over time. A very interesting section of the book discusses why the Brodgar peninsula in particular was chosen for these amazing constructions. Wickham-Jones describes the various ways this area was a special place. Even today, she writes, it is not hard to imagine oneself at the heart of Orkney. She concludes:

“The view was not just about the land, however. Water and sky were also important and the Brodgar peninsula has always offered a unique combination of all three. Those who stood here 5000 years ago were at the centre of three significant elements: earth; sky; and water. If we add a fourth element: air, one can see that they were truly at the heart of their world. Even today the visitor to the Ring of Brodgar is aware of these elements. These monuments are between the wind and the water.”

The book also includes information about the “wider world” of Neolithic Orkney, putting these monuments into the context of the entire area that is today Britain and northwest Europe.

At the end of the book, in the section Moving On, there is a list of further information about these sites, either for visiting or for study. There is also a Notes section for each of the chapters.

I found the information interesting as history, but it is also valuable for anyone interested in visiting this area.