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Heathering Days
"Ancient wisdom knew the law of circles,
Instructing the quarrymen and masons of Brodgar
In the purity and inevitability of stone-setting.
And the great white birds
Caught in a random circle of repose
Will rise again to the blood’s curve and thrust."
~ Swans at Brodgar, George Mackay Brown
A day for gathering heather and indulging in a bit of archaeological wanderlust leads to the majestic Ring of Brodgar on the Isle of Orkney, near the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. This striking tartan was created to capture the intrigue and charm of Orkney’s landscape, Its rich purple hues reflecting the heather-clad moors, standing in contrast to the enduring mystery of Orkney's ancient stones.
On a dark moor, between the Loch of Harray and the Loch of Stenness, lies a grand circle of about 30 standing stones—remnants of an original 60 or more—believed to have been erected 4,000 years ago. The largest stone circle in Scotland, measuring over 100 meters in diameter is laid out with remarkable precision. The remaining stones, towering at heights of 2.1 to 4.7 meters, are encircled by a deep ditch, carved into the sandstone bedrock and thought to have once been filled with water.
According to folklore and legend, a group of giants gathered in the field between the lochs one evening as a fiddler struck up a tune. Enchanted by the music, they joined hands and danced in a circle, oblivious to the passing hours. When the first rays of the sun broke over the horizon, the giants were instantly turned to stone—along with the fiddler himself, who stood apart from the group and is now represented by the outlying "Comet" stone.
While its true purpose remains unknown, archaeologists believe the Ring of Brodgar was a place of ritual and ceremony, possibly connected to celestial events, seasonal gatherings, or rites of passage for Neolithic communities. 💜 🖤 💜 🪨 🪨 🪨
Designed by Morag Ewing, this tartan is a tribute to the standing stones of Orkney against a background of purple heather.
The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, containing:
A massive stone circle, originally consisting of 60 stones – 36 survive today
At least 13 prehistoric burial mounds
A large rock-cut ditch surrounding the stone circle
The Heart of Neolithic Orkney was designed as a World Heritage site in December 1999. In addition to the Ring of Brodgar, the site includes Maeshowe, Skara Brae, the Standing Stones of Stenness and other nearby sites.
For more on the standing stones, click the Brodgar Ring!