A Journey Into The Underworld

By theorkneynews on May 26, 2021 • ( 1 Comment )

By Bernie Bell

I get the impression that, in that broad band of time known as The Neolithic, people looked up to the skies and the stars, connecting them with the Earth. Then into the Bronze Age and Iron Age, the focus shifted to the Underworld – going down, into the Earth.

Them as knows about such things might be puttering at me for presenting this in such a simple way – but that’s my impression, gained from what I see and what the archaeology presents to us.

My personal preference is to look up to the sky and the stars, but certain subterranean places, such as Mine Howe ………

Bernie Bell: Minehowe

….and the ‘Well’ discovered at The Cairns dig in South Ronaldsay………..

The Cairns, On A Sunny Sunny Open Day!

……………..also hold a fascination for me.

And then, and then..…Martin Carruthers, Director of the dig at The Cairns, placed a short film taken going down into the Well, on the ‘Friends of the Cairns’ Facebook page………………

Into the Well

I watched it, I watched it, I watched it again. I wanted to keep, and share, the link to the film – to be able to go there again and again. Imagine what it feels like to actually go down there, into the well? Holy Moly.

A journey into the Underworld. Last time we were at a Cairns open day, I noticed a daisy – small sun-symbol that it is – between the stones of the broch, just above the Well…………….