The History of Orkney

Orkney’s history stretches across thousands of years, shaped by early settlers, Norse rulers, and later Scottish influence. Across these islands, traces of each period remain visible, forming a landscape where the past is not confined to museums but remains part of everyday surroundings.

LFew places in northern Europe contain such a continuous and visible historical record as Orkney. From prehistoric farming communities to Viking earldoms and later Scottish administration, the islands have been shaped by successive cultures whose presence can still be traced across land and coastline. Understanding Orkney’s past helps place the landscape itself into context.

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