On the 18th of July 2017 I was granted access to Skara Brae structure 7 recreation located just 50 metres from the actual site. I spent about an hour there taking in the atmosphere and making several recordings, The first a B-format compatible surround recording a W,X,Y technique, the second a guerilla IR recording using the usual balloon pop and a mobile PCM recorder. and finally a series of recordings sat at the fire pit of rythm's playing rocks and drift wood sticks, Neolithic 'rock' music. Skara Brae is located on Skaill Bay beach on the North West of main Orcadian Island of North Ronaldsay, a stunning location.

The boat was used by a small crew to cross the Pentland Firth. Despite scepticism that it would not make the crossing, the crew not only succeeded but did it well under the time estimated. The Pentland Firth is famously a difficult sea sound with cross currents and whirl pools.

Have been on Orkney for the last 5 days, first time! So far visited the Ring of Brodgar, the dig at the Ness of Brodgar and Skara Brae. Site visits to Viking and Pictish settlements have also been on the itinerary. Whilst at the Ness I was fortunate enough to meet the site director Nick Card during a public open day at the dig site. Although very busy on the day Nick was able to share a few insights and we had the chance to meet site artist in residence and one of the geologists.



The neolithic style hide boat that was used in the BBC documentary about the Neolithic culture and how the people got to the mainland as well as between the islands of the Orkney archipeligo was also on display at the Ness. The boat the result of an archaeology PHD students research was successfully rowed across the Pentland Firth during the BBC filming.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08819tl

I have been granted access to Skara Brae after hours to do some recording on site. A summary to follow, bot so far these islands have not let us down.