 Knap of Howar
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The Knap of Howar is one of the earliest "houses" in northern Europe. The name itself, means "Knoll of Mounds", referring to the sandy dunes which covered the area at the time of discovery. The Knap is located on what is now the western shore of Papa Westray, or "Papay" one of the northernmost of the Orkney Isles. However, at the time the Knap was in use, paleogeologists believe that "Papay" was connected to the larger island of Westray by a land bridge. One of the most compelling reasons for this belief is the presence of oyster shells in the midden heap associated with the Knap. Oysters grow only in relatively shallow, calm water. Such an area could only existed on the south side of the theorized land bridge, protected from the stormy swells of the North Sea.
Built between 3700 and 3500 BC, this pair of sturdy stone structures may have housed an extended family of between fifteen and twenty people. The walls, as we see them today, are remarkably well preserved, as the entire structure was buried under the drifting sand dunes of the slowly encroaching seashore. The walls, themselves, are approximately three feet thick and stand slightly more than five feet high. The inner and outer walls are built of flat slabs of the native "red" sandstone, dry-stacked and closely packed, and filled with compacted rubble. The roof was most likely a combination of timber supports and rock slabs, covered with a thick layer of sod for weatherproofing. The entrance to both structures was to the west, and were probably closed by more of the flat slabs of sandstone, and possibly a hanging skin to keep out the draughts. There is also a connecting passageway between the two structures, to allow communication without going outside; a definite boon in the harsh and cold winters.
When the structures were excavated in 1929 by William Kirkness and William Traill, they found the interior furnishings almost intact. Bed frames (boxes), shelves, seats and hearths were all fashioned from slabs of sandstone. Vertical partitions of the same rock were also used to separate various areas of the dwellings. Shelves and cubby-holes are also built into the walls in several places. There are also "boxes" made of rock slabs and sealed with clay to make them watertight. Judging by the limpet shells in the area, these may have been used as "bait-boxes". Limpets are too tough and chewy to eat, but could be cut into chunks for fish bait. The pair of houses seems to have comprised a single farmstead. Evidence from the midden heap shows the inhabitants raised cattle, sheep and pigs. They also raised both barley and wheat in fields farther from the shore. Several types of shells suggest they also harvested oysters and mussels from the enclosed bay. Fish bones of all sizes tells that they also fished in the area. Some of the species are of the kind which can only be caught with hook and line, or possibly speared. Others are of the type which are still commonly netted in these waters.
One of the most interesting finds at the Knap of Howar was fragments of finely-made and richly-decorated "Unstan" ware. This suggests that the inhabitants were in communication with sites in central Scotland and points further south. There are a number of chambered cairns on Westray, Papay, and also on a small islet to the east called the Holm of Papay. Directly to the south of the Knap is an unexcavated mound, referred to in the literature as a "burnt mound". Though this may be another burial cairn, we have taken the liberty of turning it into a second farmstead, to enlarge and enrich our little community on Papay.
