ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY

 

 

Archaeology

 

See a collection of stone items from Caithness on display and glean a better understanding of key eras including Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, the Broch dwellers, Picts and Vikings - all spanning 9000 years.

 

Browse through the exhibits to find out more about life in the past - what people did and how did they live? 

 

Visit the well preserved prehistoric sites - the standing stones, the cairns and the brochs... 

 

Follow in the footsteps of the Norse invaders and settlers, at what was once the southern edge of the Norse world, who used Thurso as a trading centre (from the Viking for Thor's River).

 

Walk back to Medieval times and find out more about the main castle sites, such as Castle of Mey, and the Sinclairs.

 

      

 

Industry

 

Explore the area's main industries including flagstone quarries such as Achanarras.  This quarry has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it is a find-site for early fossil fish of international significance.  Find out exactly where stone paving was exported to in the past as well as examples of contemporary work including the Scottish Parliament.

 

And plot your way around the harbours of Caithness...

 

Reel in some information on salmon fishing in our rivers and dig up some facts on agriculture and life on the land including a biography of Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster and see a display model of a real farm building complete with its grain drying kiln.