Artificial islands older than Stonehenge stump scientists

A study of crannogs in Scotland's Outer Hebrides reveals some were built more than 3,000 years earlier than previously thought. But what purpose did they serve?

When it comes to studying Neolithic Britain (4,000-2,500 B.C.), a bit of archaeological mystery is to be expected. Since Neolithic farmers existed long before written language made its way to the British Isles, the only records of their lives are the things they left behind. And while they did leave us a lot of monuments that took, well, monumental effort to build—think Stonehenge or the stone circles of Orkney—the cultural practices and deeper intentions behind these sites are largely unknown.

Now it looks like there may potentially be a whole new type of Neolithic monument for archaeologists to scratch their heads over: crannogs.

Read more from the article at National Geographic here.

The Craft of Scottish Witches

I have decided to treat myself and attend this lecture.  It has been such a long time since I been to Treadwells, and, well, the subject of Scottish Witches is of particular interest to me.

Gaelic Language, Song and Folklore in Canna

2013 sees the launch of a brand new and exciting opportunity to experience the secrets of the Isle of Canna in the Hebrides. Canna House is prepared to give up the secrets of its priceless Folklore Collections of Margaret and John Campbell for the very first time. Take the opportunity to be one of the first people to explore not only the Campbells’ legacy, but also what drew them to Canna and why it is such a special little island. Fiona will be running her 4th Annual course of both Gaelic Song and Gaelic Language on the island itself this October. 

An intrinsic part of this course will be the opportunity to also learn Gaelic, through the revolutionary, intensive, Ulpan method, delivered by well-known tutor Rhoda Meek.  Gaelic was at the heart of traditional Canna life until not that long ago and  learning the language in the shadow of the cliffs of Rum is an ideal way to feel part of that culture and increase understanding of that way of life.

View more details at Fiona Mackenzie.