Neolithic settlement of the Northern Isles (Orkney, Shetland) and the Hebrides (c. 3,500–2,000 BCE)

1. Farming reaches northern Scottish islands

   Jan 1, 4000 BCELabels: Orkney, Western Isles, Neolithic farming

   • Cambridge Core
   • Brodgar Project

2. Knap of Howar farmstead occupied (Papa Westray)

   Jan 1, 3800 BCELabels: Knap of, Papa Westray, Neolithic farmstead

   • Knap Howar
   • HES Knap

3. Neolithic begins in Orkney (radiocarbon model)

   Jan 1, 3730 BCELabels: Orkney, Radiocarbon model, Neolithic transition

   • Cambridge Core

4. Orkney pottery tradition: Unstan ware in use

   Jan 1, 3500 BCELabels: Unstan ware, Orkney pottery

   • Unstan ware

5. Early activity begins at Ness of Brodgar

   Jan 1, 3500 BCELabels: Ness of, Mainland Orkney

   • Ness Brodgar

6. Neolithic crannog settlement at Eilean Dòmhnuill

   Jan 1, 3200 BCELabels: Eilean D, Outer Hebrides, Crannog

   • Eilean D mhnuill

7. Skara Brae village occupied on Mainland Orkney

   Jan 1, 3180 BCELabels: Skara Brae, Mainland Orkney, Neolithic village

   • HES Skara
   • Skara Brae

8. Grooved Ware develops and spreads from Orkney

   Jan 1, 3000 BCELabels: Grooved Ware, Orkney pottery

   • London Museum

9. Maeshowe chambered cairn built in Orkney

   Jan 1, 3000 BCELabels: Maeshowe, Chambered cairn, Orkney

   • HES Maeshowe

10. Stanydale ‘Temple’ reflects late Neolithic Shetland society

    Jan 1, 3000 BCELabels: Stanydale, Shetland, Temple

    • HES Stanydale

11. Calanais standing stone circle erected on Lewis

    Jan 1, 2900 BCELabels: Calanais, Callanish, Lewis

    • Calanais

12. Ring of Brodgar constructed as late Neolithic monument

    Jan 1, 2600 BCELabels: Ring of, Orkney, Monument

    • HES Brodgar

13. Skara Brae abandoned as new Bronze Age practices emerge

    Jan 1, 2500 BCELabels: Skara Brae, Abandonment, Bronze Age

    • HES Skara
    • Skara Brae

14. Neolithic era in Northern Isles and Hebrides wanes

    Jan 1, 2000 BCELabels: Northern Isles, Hebrides, Neolithic decline

    • HES Brodgar
    • HES Maeshowe