Skara Brae: The Stone Village That Stayed Warm
10 February 2026

Skara Brae: The Stone Village That Stayed Warm

Intellectually Curious

About

Five thousand years ago in Orkney, Skara Brae was not a damp cave, but a sophisticated home. In this episode we explore its thermal strategy—walls packed with midden and organic matter—plus an early flushing system and a main sewer that hint at a hygienic, well-planned community. We also dive into the everyday life revealed by grooved ware, stone furniture, and a few potent potions in the pottery that suggest ritual or high-stakes knowledge. Finally, we ask why climate change nudged this remarkable village to abandon ship and what its durability teaches us about resilience and design today.


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