Imagine a time before Jesus, even before the ancient Greeks and Romans. Now imagine stepping into a house from that very old time — only to discover modern technologies like plumbing, even a kind of refrigerator. Seems hard to believe, right?
Sometimes, history can be a little dry and confusing. But when I read about this piece of the past, I was amazed. How did I not know this existed?
On a little bay in Scotland, hidden within the bright green hills, sits an ancient secret. It might not seem very impressive at first, but step inside and you'll be amazed.
For nearly a thousand years, this important site was lost beneath sand — but when a terrible storm hit in 1850, an incredible secret was revealed.
After reading these incredible facts, be sure to watch the video below.
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On the Orkney Isles of mainland Scotland, a secret older than the Great Pyramids lurks within the mossy hills.
Though it might not seem like much from eye level, the view from above reveals a tremendous surprise...
Within the rolling hillside, an entire ancient village has been perfectly preserved. It has been dubbed Skara Brae.
Built around 3180 BC, this incredible settlement predates Stonehenge and rivals the preservation of Pompeii.
The settlement consists of seven ancient rooms, most of which share the same basic design: a central fireplace, a bed on either side, and a shelved dresser opposite the entrance.
In every room, one bed was always larger than the other, though no one is sure why. Each of the rooms also features cupboards, a dresser, seats, and storage boxes. These storage boxes were built to be waterproof, suggesting they might have held live shellfish for later consumption.
One dwelling, however, breaks from the others: it does not feature beds, boxes, or any of the usual trappings. After finding fragments of stone, bone, and antler, it was suggested that this room served as a kind of tool-making station.
The individual dwellings are connected by tunnels made from carefully placed stone slabs. Each dwelling would have been closed off with a stone door.
Skara Brae also features another shocking innovation for its time: plumbing. Though crude, these families did each have a toilet in their home, connected to a primitive plumbing system.
The preservation of the village can be attributed to its advanced design. The original builders took care to bury the stone walls in clay soil and waste material. This made the dwellings well-insulated and protected them from the elements.
Researchers believe that Skara Brae was occupied for around 700 years. In 2500 BC, the villagers abandoned the site, taking only their prized possessions.
No one knows why the villagers left, or when the site was finally swallowed by the sand and sea. But it wasn't until 1850 that the ancient settlement was rediscovered.
Though the original roofs were long gone, the sand had perfectly preserved the interior of the village. But the dwellings were so advanced, it took a while before the settlement could be accurately dated.
Many strange artifacts were recovered from the site and surrounding area, further proving this was a highly evolved community.
This important historical site is now being carefully preserved for future generations. Tourists are asked to take very special care when being guided through the settlement.
And though much has been lost to time and the sea, this much is very clear: They might have been primitive, but the settlers of Skara Brae weren't all that different from families today.
For more fascinating history, be sure to watch the video below — and please SHARE if you enjoyed this secret village!
