Inside the Knap of Howar, Papa Westray, Orkney

The Knap of Howar is a neolithic farmstead located on Papa Westray, one of the smaller outlying islands of Orkney. At more than 5,500 years old, the substantial ruins of the two dwellings are thought to be the oldest houses in Northern Europe. The well-preserved structure, which is linked by a passageway, retains its doorways, partitions and stone shelves built in to the walls. The older, larger building to the north is thought to have been a living area and the other a workshop. Archaeological excavations suggest its use as a farm with discoveries of sheep, cattle and pig bones, as well as evidence of offshore fishing.