Mystery of Neolithic Religions

Artist rendition of Scottish neolithic religious site 3500 BC.

Since 2002 archaeologists have been working on the Scottish Island of Orkney on one of the most promising neolithic sites yet discovered.  Orkney, an isolated, relatively barren island home to some hardy farmers, has an impressive number of neolithic sites. But the Ness of Brogar, dating from at least 3500 BC, surpasses everything yet discovered.  A sophisticated temple complex surrounded by domestic buildings, with plenty of standing stones, enclosed in a massive stone wall, the site has already produced valuable information.  Evidence of painting and decoration, plus carved figurines for example, are the first found in a neolithic site.  The Ness predates Stonehinge by 700 years.  Researchers are confident that the more than 100 as yet untouched structures at the site will explain Stonehinge and substantially change our understanding of this period in prehistory.