Barnhouse Settlement

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House 3, remains of one of the Neolithic houses in the Barnhouse Settlement, looking out over the Loch of Harray.

The recently found Neolithic Barnhouse Settlement is sited by the shore of Loch of Harray, Orkney Mainland, Scotland, not far from the Standing Stones of Stenness. The base courses have been found of at least 15 houses which have similarities to Skara Brae in that the houses have central hearths, beds built against the walls and stone dressers, but differ in that the houses seem to have been free-standing. Pottery of the grooved ware type was found, as at the Stones of Stenness and Skara Brae. Flint and stone tools were found, as well as a piece of pitchstone thought to have come from the Isle of Arran.

The largest 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.

This site is accessible to the public via a footpath from the Stones of Stenness.