Knap of Howar is an ancient Neolithic settlement located in the small village of Pierowall. It is considered to be one of the oldest standing structures in Northern Europe, dating back to around 3700 BC. The site consists of two well-preserved stone houses, which were built using a technique known as dry-stone walling. The walls are made of flat stones that have been carefully placed on top of each other without the use of mortar.
The larger of the two houses is rectangular in shape and measures approximately 10 meters by 5 meters. It has a central hearth and a small stone-lined pit, which is believed to have been used for storing food. The smaller house is circular in shape and measures approximately 6 meters in diameter. It also has a central hearth and a small stone-lined pit.
Both houses have low doorways, which would have required occupants to stoop down to enter. The roofs of the houses were made of turf and would have been supported by wooden beams. The houses are situated close to the shore, which suggests that the occupants were likely to have been fishermen.
The site was first excavated in the 1930s and has since been extensively studied by archaeologists. It is believed that the site was occupied for several hundred years before being abandoned. The reasons for the abandonment are not clear, but it is thought to have been due to a combination of factors, including climate change and changes in the local environment.
Today, Knap of Howar is a popular tourist attraction and is open to the public. Visitors can explore the site and learn about the lives of the Neolithic people who once lived there. The site is also of great archaeological significance and has helped to shed light on the early history of the Orkney Islands.
