Westray Wife

The Vienna found by archaeologists Jakob Kainz Westray figurine (English Westray figurine ) from the time of the Grooved Ware (Neolithic ) is the oldest and only prehistoric human figure found in Scotland. There are in the British Isles, only two other examples ( Bell Track figure and Dagenham Idol ). In Nab Head (Wales ) a Mesolithic sculpture was found, which is interpreted as a representation of man.

Description

The figure is made of red sandstone. It is 3.5 m × 3 cm in size and flat. A round head sits, clearly separated, on a diamond-shaped body. The face with heavy brows, dots for eyes, and possibly an elongated nose is represented by carvings. Scratches on the skull may show hair. The eyebrows of the figure are identical to the " eyebrows " motif in Südcairn (Dis o'the Holm ) on the Holm of Papa Westray, a neighboring island. The local 20 m long Megalithic Monuments of Maes Howe type, with numerous side chambers, has eleven stone carvings, including ( " Eye idols ", circles, dots and zigzags ). Two circles on the chest of the Westray figure be interpreted as breasts or clothing component. The arms were scratched. To regular crossing markings on the back, tissues or samples of clothing represent. The figure is about 5000 years old.

Locality

The figure was found during excavations in the Links of Noltland on Westray, one of Orkney. The Links of Noltland (NGR: HY 428 493 ) lie in the sand dunes behind the Grobust Bay on the north west coast of Westray. The dunes are subject to strong wind erosion, a problem that is exacerbated by the activity of rabbits. In the 19th century the antiquarian George Petrie made ​​the first discoveries. But only in the 20th century, the area was investigated. The figure was found in the trash heap of a house. The archaeologists discovered in the wall of a Neolithic house skull of ten animals. All were positioned with the head down with the horns in the ground. The prehistoric inhabitants have kept cattle and sheep, eaten wild and cultivated barley.