A visit to Gurness broch in Orkney with some of the interesting facts and speculation that Archaeologists have come up with since its discovery in 1929 by Orcadian poet Robert Rendall.
😊👍 I liked the nice clear narration. Simple, and easy to follow. ''Were Brochs defensive, a place of refuge, or status symbols.'' Answer, 'YES!'' All of those, most likely. The Brochs are remarkable structures! The double walls would make them very difficult to breach, because as soon as an invader broke through the outer wall, he could easily be dispatched with a suitable rock, as it would be impossible for him to proceed further. In addition, the double walls would provide excellent insulation, against inclement weather, during winters, allowing people and their animals protection. They would also act as excellent cool food storage structures during summers. The shape of the brochs is also quite advanced, approaching a hyperboloid, which is the same shape used for cooling towers. In addition, they would be superb lookout towers, to give advance warning of any hostile gangs approaching. The real mystery, is why they were abandoned. My guess is, that the changing climate, and combined with the increased population meant that food became scarce, and so continued habitation became impossible. .
TY for that interesting "Piece," So clear and concise. I can Fill in the points where the Conjecture has "Gone Astray" It had been Pict Terriitory for around 10'000 years before it was found I can assure you I will have to "Do" a piece to explain why in the form of a Book to expand on it Ill health at the moment is slowing down my Input but this is So important I will push myself to doing it.
I have all the families involved in living in the Brochs, They moved south onto what had become "The Mainland" and because of Space and Resources probably a lot sooner than the Archaeologists realise A documentary airing on BBC the other day revealed to me my family "MARK". As time progressed farming increased and Wheat began to be grown from Inverness east to Aberdeen and the "Fur Long" the Aberdeen Angus introduced for Ploughing I see a Phd has done a Paper on the subject of fertilisation of the soil and The Picts in that area. Enter my family name BAKER. We became those farmers. With further expansion of the Population the Picts took over virtually the whole of eastern Britain at that point. They suddenly disappeared after 862 and the Assassination of Donald 1st at Perth to avoid the vengeance of his brother Kenneth 1st So that is the quick precis of the process All it needs now are the times adjusting.
FANTASTIC PRODUCTION! I agree with the other commentators. Inspired me to look closer at my 'supposed' Hayes/de la Haye/ Viking ancestor Hrolf (Rollo) Hrollagersson (Called Brico de Thurstan).Hrolf BIRTH 884 • Orkney, Scotland. who followed his uncle Rollo to Normandy. (that is all the women told the truth of their children' s paternity of course) His father arrived there from Norway. So that is the only generation that was there Thanks I will finally look for documentation on that location and period,
Places like that are usually abandoned because the need for water overtakes its supply. This can be caused in part by deforestation and top soil loss since forests attract rain and soil preserves it over time.
The Orkneys seem to have had a bustling population, 3+ millennia ago! Skara Brae is only 10.65 miles from Gurness, and the Standing Stones of Stenness are but 10 miles south, although one has to walk around the bight to get to them, from Gurness. The stone construction leads me to think Gurness is much older than 1st Century BC. I'd place it in the latter part of the 13th Century BC, if not the 14th. People of that time had good reason to construct shelters that would absorb heavy punishment, as if survival was imperative. We sit comfortably distant from those times, but the amount of work these show points to planet-wide catastrophes. The redoubts are unique, possibly allowing for additional water storage (for ordinary purposes, animals, washing, etc), but they also enable run-off, as if the ocean, or the North Sea, in this case, would rise from its bed, and wash over the landscape, in a tsunami. Skara Brae shows the same basic fear and preparation, possibly 1500BC, or 1344, when Joshua "commanded the Sun to stand still in the sky" (so the Hebrews could go on killing their enemies, the Canaanites, for 6-8 more hours, a very un-God-like action), causing worldwide tsunamis that probably lasted for months, until the planet stabilized its watery cover, once again. Imagine the wave, when the planet stops rotating at 1,000 mph, but the water doesn't. Skara Brae, on the western coast WSW of Gurness, shows what one might build, if one had an idea of what was coming, and convinced his fellows to cooperate long enough to build a shelter that would accommodate everyone in their village/extended family. A massive undertaking in stonemasonry. The block house at Gurness is exactly such a shelter, built incredibly strong to withstand hurricane-force winds for extended periods, and heavy seas as best as could be managed. It may be the survivors at Skara Brae moved away from the western coast, to the northeast, and saw another catastrophe looming, so built themselves a second shelter, or it may have been just another part of that "bustling population" I mentioned, near the same time. The events continued longer than the memory of Man, so the origins of these shelters was lost, in later days, as the need for them abated, until it was gone, not to return for 2,750 years, and counting. There is ample evidence of catastrophes such as I mention, repeated and severe, in stones and bones, and in anecdotal evidence such as the Bible stories Exodus-Joshua-II Samuel-II Kings/II Chronicles/I Isaiah-II Isaiah-Daniel-Jeremiah/Lamentations-Ezekiel, in that order, pointing to larger-than-life events. LTL events are those that exceed norms, expectations, and available resources. Mountain-building is a great example. Plate tectonics COULD build the Himalayas, 10-15 feet at a time, IF one allowed for almost 2,500 sequentially severe earthquakes, each lifting the mountains 10-15 ft. Many of today's severest earthquakes move nearby mountains only inches.
I can’t help but think that these unusual ( to us ) types of buildings were built for protection from the larger animals both flying and walking like dinosaurs, and the larger birds and such animals
Can you imagine how warm it must have been back then, it must have been much warmer otherwise life would have been too hard.Have you noticed that the sea level has not changed in all those glacier melting years.
Very well done. I had the great pleasure to visit Orkney a few times from the USA (and explored extensively across most islands) and enjoyed your narration and fine photography. All of your videos are emjoyable and highly accurate - brought back good memories. Happy that someone has taken the time to highlight locations besides Skara Brae,Maeshowe, etc. Any plans to visit Rousay, Westray, and Papa Westray? Good stuff there as well!
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate feedback. Rousay is one of my favourite places but unfortunately I do not have enough video clips to do it justice. I am I my seventies now so carrying equipment is getting more troublesome. Writing a script is quite difficult as I do try to keep accurate and only state what I believe is verifiable. I am trying to do a video on Skara Brae. There is a lot of technical stuff I have to get my head round though. I do not live in Orkney so going back for additional footage is not an option. Finally if you haven’t been to Orkney you haven’t lived!
@@dipinmedia a remember seeing a batch o brochs on that Kyle.fantastic holiday on great islands your braw video brings back thon memories, skara brae,Mae's how,stennes,hoy,brodgar,....................legend!
😊👍
I liked the nice clear narration. Simple, and easy to follow.
''Were Brochs defensive, a place of refuge, or status symbols.''
Answer, 'YES!'' All of those, most likely.
The Brochs are remarkable structures!
The double walls would make them very difficult to breach, because as soon as an invader broke through the outer wall, he could easily be dispatched with a suitable rock, as it would be impossible for him to proceed further. In addition, the double walls would provide excellent insulation, against inclement weather, during winters, allowing people and their animals protection. They would also act as excellent cool food storage structures during summers.
The shape of the brochs is also quite advanced, approaching a hyperboloid, which is the same shape used for cooling towers. In addition, they would be superb lookout towers, to give advance warning of any hostile gangs approaching.
The real mystery, is why they were abandoned. My guess is, that the changing climate, and combined with the increased population meant that food became scarce, and so continued habitation became impossible.
.
And likely to be repeated.
Thank you for your clear description of these ancient and intriguing structures. Liverpool uk
Robert Rendall, is my great grandfather. We now live in Shropshire would love to visit one day.
Really well done!
Thank you for taking me places I would never have the privilege of experiencing on my own.
❤
I sincerely enjoy your walks and narrations. Thank you.
Visited there in August, fell in love with the islands, so many great sites to see.
TY for that interesting "Piece,"
So clear and concise. I can Fill in the points where the Conjecture has "Gone Astray"
It had been Pict Terriitory for around 10'000 years before it was found I can assure you
I will have to "Do" a piece to explain why in the form of a Book to expand on it
Ill health at the moment is slowing down my Input but this is So important I will push myself to doing it.
I have all the families involved in living in the Brochs,
They moved south onto what had become "The Mainland" and because of Space and Resources probably a lot sooner than the Archaeologists realise
A documentary airing on BBC the other day revealed to me my family "MARK". As time progressed farming increased and Wheat began to be grown from Inverness east to Aberdeen and the "Fur Long" the Aberdeen Angus introduced for Ploughing
I see a Phd has done a Paper on the subject of fertilisation of the soil and The Picts in that area.
Enter my family name BAKER.
We became those farmers.
With further expansion of the Population the Picts took over virtually the whole of eastern Britain at that point.
They suddenly disappeared after 862 and the Assassination of Donald 1st at Perth to avoid the vengeance of his brother Kenneth 1st
So that is the quick precis of the process
All it needs now are the times adjusting.
Visited this broch in 2003. It was difficult to understand the layout initially but we stayed for a while and got the idea. Greetings from OZ.
FANTASTIC PRODUCTION! I agree with the other commentators. Inspired me to look closer at my 'supposed' Hayes/de la Haye/ Viking ancestor Hrolf (Rollo) Hrollagersson (Called Brico de Thurstan).Hrolf BIRTH 884 • Orkney, Scotland. who followed his uncle Rollo to Normandy. (that is all the women told the truth of their children' s paternity of course) His father arrived there from Norway. So that is the only generation that was there Thanks I will finally look for documentation on that location and period,
Places like that are usually abandoned because the need for water overtakes its supply.
This can be caused in part by deforestation and top soil loss since forests attract rain and soil preserves it over time.
Excellent narration and very fine drone views from air and sea.
Very interesting story! Thank you for telling!
Your video programmes are stunning.
I’m fascinated by this topic. Im in the process of building a scaled down Broch beehive.
I’ve just found your channel and it’s so interesting.
The Orkneys seem to have had a bustling population, 3+ millennia ago! Skara Brae is only 10.65 miles from Gurness, and the Standing Stones of Stenness are but 10 miles south, although one has to walk around the bight to get to them, from Gurness. The stone construction leads me to think Gurness is much older than 1st Century BC. I'd place it in the latter part of the 13th Century BC, if not the 14th. People of that time had good reason to construct shelters that would absorb heavy punishment, as if survival was imperative. We sit comfortably distant from those times, but the amount of work these show points to planet-wide catastrophes.
The redoubts are unique, possibly allowing for additional water storage (for ordinary purposes, animals, washing, etc), but they also enable run-off, as if the ocean, or the North Sea, in this case, would rise from its bed, and wash over the landscape, in a tsunami. Skara Brae shows the same basic fear and preparation, possibly 1500BC, or 1344, when Joshua "commanded the Sun to stand still in the sky" (so the Hebrews could go on killing their enemies, the Canaanites, for 6-8 more hours, a very un-God-like action), causing worldwide tsunamis that probably lasted for months, until the planet stabilized its watery cover, once again. Imagine the wave, when the planet stops rotating at 1,000 mph, but the water doesn't. Skara Brae, on the western coast WSW of Gurness, shows what one might build, if one had an idea of what was coming, and convinced his fellows to cooperate long enough to build a shelter that would accommodate everyone in their village/extended family. A massive undertaking in stonemasonry. The block house at Gurness is exactly such a shelter, built incredibly strong to withstand hurricane-force winds for extended periods, and heavy seas as best as could be managed.
It may be the survivors at Skara Brae moved away from the western coast, to the northeast, and saw another catastrophe looming, so built themselves a second shelter, or it may have been just another part of that "bustling population" I mentioned, near the same time. The events continued longer than the memory of Man, so the origins of these shelters was lost, in later days, as the need for them abated, until it was gone, not to return for 2,750 years, and counting. There is ample evidence of catastrophes such as I mention, repeated and severe, in stones and bones, and in anecdotal evidence such as the Bible stories Exodus-Joshua-II Samuel-II Kings/II Chronicles/I Isaiah-II Isaiah-Daniel-Jeremiah/Lamentations-Ezekiel, in that order, pointing to larger-than-life events. LTL events are those that exceed norms, expectations, and available resources. Mountain-building is a great example. Plate tectonics COULD build the Himalayas, 10-15 feet at a time, IF one allowed for almost 2,500 sequentially severe earthquakes, each lifting the mountains 10-15 ft. Many of today's severest earthquakes move nearby mountains only inches.
Thank you...such engineering and mystery
Someone somewhere ALWAYS knows 😎 🧐 🧐 🧐 though.
Read my original reply and follow up for the rest of the story
Fascinating!
Thank you
I can’t help but think that these unusual ( to us ) types of buildings were built for protection from the larger animals both flying and walking like dinosaurs, and the larger birds and such animals
Can you imagine how warm it must have been back then, it must have been much warmer otherwise life would have been too hard.Have you noticed that the sea level has not changed in all those glacier melting years.
Remind me of similar structures in Sardinia.
Very well done. I had the great pleasure to visit Orkney a few times from the USA (and explored extensively across most islands) and enjoyed your narration and fine photography. All of your videos are emjoyable and highly accurate - brought back good memories. Happy that someone has taken the time to highlight locations besides Skara Brae,Maeshowe, etc. Any plans to visit Rousay, Westray, and Papa Westray? Good stuff there as well!
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate feedback. Rousay is one of my favourite places but unfortunately I do not have enough video clips to do it justice. I am I my seventies now so carrying equipment is getting more troublesome. Writing a script is quite difficult as I do try to keep accurate and only state what I believe is verifiable. I am trying to do a video on Skara Brae. There is a lot of technical stuff I have to get my head round though. I do not live in Orkney so going back for additional footage is not an option. Finally if you haven’t been to Orkney you haven’t lived!
THANK U , SHARE,SHARE PLEASE
A mind being there, is there no other brochs on the other side of the water?
Midhowe broch on Rousay is across from Gurness.
@@dipinmedia a remember seeing a batch o brochs on that Kyle.fantastic holiday on great islands your braw video brings back thon memories, skara brae,Mae's how,stennes,hoy,brodgar,....................legend!
Could they have been a place to hide out from stormy, windy weather?