{{For|a building which contains both a barn and a house|housebarn}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Barnhouse Settlement | native_name = | alternate_name = | image = Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement 2018a.jpg | alt = | caption = ''House 3'', remains of one of the houses in the Barnhouse Settlement, looking out over the Loch of Harray | map_type = Scotland | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in Scotland, United Kingdom | location = Scotland, United Kingdom | coordinates = {{coord|58.9958326|-3.2068352|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB-ORK|display=inline,title}} | type = Settlement | part_of = | length = | width = | area = | height = | builder = | material = | built = {{circa|3000 BC}} | abandoned = {{circa|2600 BC}} | epochs = Neolithic | cultures = | dependency_of = | occupants = | event = | discovered = 1984 by Colin Richards | excavations = | archaeologists = | condition = | ownership = Orkney Islands Council<ref name="Plan">{{Cite book | title = Heart of Neolithic Orkney - Management Plan 2014–19: Consultation Draft| publisher = Historic Scotland| year =2013 | page =13 | url = http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hono-draft-management-plan.pdf}}</ref> | public_access = Yes | website = | notes =
| designation1 = Scheduled monument | designation1_partof = | designation1_date = | designation1_type = | designation1_criteria = | designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90352|short=yes}} | designation1_free1name = | designation1_free1value = | designation1_free2name = | designation1_free2value = }}
The Neolithic '''Barnhouse Settlement''' is sited by the shore of Loch of Harray, Orkney Mainland, Scotland, not far from the Standing Stones of Stenness, about 5 miles north-east of Stromness.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=The Barnhouse Settlement|url=https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/around-the-ness-the-barnhouse-settlement/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The Ness of Brodgar Excavation|language=en-GB}}</ref>
It was discovered in 1984 by Colin Richards.<ref name="Agenda">{{Cite book | title = The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site Research Agenda| publisher = Historic Scotland| volume =Part 2 | year =2005 | url =http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/orkney-agenda-part2.pdf| isbn =1-904-966-04-7 }}</ref>{{rp|45}} Excavations were conducted between 1986 and 1991, over time revealing the base courses of at least 15 houses. The houses have similarities to those of the early phase of the better-known settlement at Skara Brae in that they have central hearths, beds built against the walls and stone dressers, and internal drains,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barnhouse {{!}} Canmore|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/2152/barnhouse|access-date=2020-06-27|website=canmore.org.uk|language=en}}</ref> but differ in that the houses seem to have been free-standing. The settlement dates back to around 3000 BC.<ref name="Agenda"/>{{rp|52}}
Pottery of the grooved ware type was found, as at the Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae.<ref name="Monuments"/>{{rp|32}} Flint and stone tools were found, as well as a piece of pitchstone thought to have come from the Isle of Arran.
The largest of the original buildings was ''House 2''. It was double-sized, featuring a higher building standard than the other houses and unlike the others was rebuilt up to five times. ''House 2'' seems to have remained in use throughout the inhabited period of the settlement. The houses were clustered around a central open area which was divided into areas for making pottery and the working of flint, bones and hides. Evidence suggests that Barnhouse was abandoned around 2600 BC.<ref name="Agenda"/>{{rp|52}}
After Barnhouse ceased to be occupied, another structure was added, partially on top of the earlier building sites. Known as ''Structure 8'', this building had a room about 7 m (23 ft) square with walls 3 m (10 ft) thick and an entrance facing towards the north west so that the midsummer sunset shines along the passageway, with similarities to some chambered cairns. The structure was surrounded by a clay platform. The entrance through this was aligned with Maeshowe. The structure is assumed to have served as a ceremonial site rather than as a dwelling.<ref name="Agenda"/>{{rp|48,52,56}} It is thought to be closely linked with the nearby Stones of Stenness. Some of the hearth slabs from the structure may have been moved to the Stones.<ref name="Monuments">{{cite book|last=Wickham-Jones|first=Caroline|title=Monuments of Orkney|publisher=Historic Scotland|year=2012|isbn=978-1-84917-073-4}}</ref>{{rp|32}}
This site is accessible to the public via a footpath from the Standing Stones of Stenness.
{{gallery|Barnhouse settlement1.jpg|Barnhouse settlement |Barnhouse Settlement 20110525 Structure 8 within wall.jpg|Main building|The Barnhouse Settlement - geograph.org.uk - 1446691.jpg |Main building|Barnhouse Stone-age Village - geograph.org.uk - 488352.jpg|Main building}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Barnhouse}} *[https://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk/site.php?a=20 Pictures of Barnhouse Neolithic Settlement] *{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM90352|desc=Watch Stone, stone settings, Barnhouse settlement, and related remains}}
{{Prehistoric Orkney|state=expanded}} {{Prehistoric technology}} {{Authority control}} Category:Populated places established in the 4th millennium BC Category:Populated places disestablished in the 3rd millennium BC Category:4th-millennium BC architecture in Scotland Category:Archaeological sites in Orkney Category:Prehistoric Orkney Category:Stone Age sites in Scotland Category:Neolithic settlements Category:Former populated places in Scotland Category:Scheduled monuments in Orkney Category:Neolithic Scotland Category:1984 in Scotland Category:Mainland, Orkney Category:1984 archaeological discoveries Category:Archaeological discoveries in the United Kingdom