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5,000-year-old Neolithic village unearthed in Orkney. Archaeologists say find could be as significant as Skara Brae (pictured).
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Archaeologists have discovered a Neolithic settlement dating back nearly 5,000 years.
Experts believe the unusual buildings recovered at Ness of Brodgar in Orkney could be as historically significant as the islands' famous Skara Brae village.
It is hoped the discovery will help unlock the secrets of how people lived in the Stone Age.
The team from Orkney College and Orkney Archaeological Trust uncovered the buildings over the past few months.
Oval and separated into chambers, their construction suggests they were temples which could have been used for rituals.
Only a small part of the settlement, which archaeologists believe also has domestic properties, has been unearthed.
Project manager Nick Card said: "This is the first time we have been able to get access to these quite wonderful structures.
"They are comparable to Skara Brae and two stone circles which lie nearby.
"The discovery has the potential to illuminate how these different sites interacted and how people lived at that time."
The site is 2.5 hectares and covers two fields.
Mr Card added that their work suggested there were many more structures hidden under the ground.
As well as the structures, the team have also found "pottery by the bucketful", stone tools and burned animal bones, indicating evidence of feasting.
"We are hopeful that every aspect of life 5,000 years ago will be clarified by our discoveries," Mr Card added.
"This is not just about Neolithic life in the north of Scotland - it could have ramifications for the study of the Stone Age throughout Britain."
The Ness of Brodgar lies close to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1999.
It comprises the Skara Brae village, the Maeshowe chambered tomb, the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar.
The village of Skara Brae was discovered following a storm in Orkney in 1850.
It is regarded as one of the most remarkable monuments in Europe.
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