Smerquoy
The Neolithic settlement of Smerquoy , southwest of Wideford Hill Cairn , near St. Ola on the Orkney island of Mainland in Scotland , was excavated in 2013 by archaeologist Christopher Gee. The archaeologist was made aware of the site by landowner Billy Sinclair a few years ago.
A first inspection led to the discovery of several hammer stones , the grinding stone of a millstone , as well as ceramics and flint . A systematic investigation brought to light flint knives and scrapers, a possible club head, a small Neolithic ax and an Iron Age glass bead . A magnetometer examination revealed anomalies in the area of the finds. The excavation in Smerquoy showed the outlines of an elongated structure, the long walls of which were slightly bulged outwards. Similarities have been noted with the Knap of Howar's contemporaneous homes on Papa Westray .
The Smerquoy Stone
A stone adorned with pecking was found in the remains of a well-preserved Neolithic building that dates back to 3200 BC. Was dated. The stone is the earliest example of Stone Age art on the islands, dating about 200 years before Maes Howe was built . The parallel curved lines are in the shape of a heart, with two pairs of round indentations in the middle of the upper curves.
Although the design is reminiscent of eyebrow motifs in the passage tomb Dis o'the Holm on the Holm of Papa and has associations with Orkney Venus and other incisions, the Smerquoy stone is centuries older.
There were later activities on the square dating back to 2500–2400 BC. And indicate a long use. In 2003, evidence of wooden structure was found on the north side of Wideford Hill, where post holes indicate a circular structure. There seems to be evidence of a pre-stone phase of the Neolithic Orkney.
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Coordinates: 58 ° 58 ′ 58.1 ″ N , 3 ° 2 ′ 12.7 ″ W.