actually it was the other way round. it was almost certainly a headland 1000 years ago, not cut off by the sea at any time. As the capital of viking orkney it seems logical that they would establish a site that they could access from the land without the problems we have today. You have to be careful with the published tide times as well - the orcadian is not always entirely correct, or rather tides published are not always directly relevant to actual timings. many tourists and even some local find themselves wading back along the causway as a result. ----- Original Message ---- From: Norman Tulloch <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 3:10:48 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Brough of Birsay I wonder if access to the Brough by sea might have been easier in Viking times because of higher sea levels? Less danger of grounding on the rocks? "Significant fluctuations in sea level have occurred around Orkney in the recent past. This is inferred from features observed near Stromness and many other parts of Orkney. There is compelling evidence from widespread raised beach features for an approximately 1m - 2m higher relative sea-level in the past, while the large number of oyces backed by grass-covered cliffs, and raised beaches around Orkney's coastline confirm a similar story. Although not dated, it is inferred that this particular high stand occurred about 1000 years ago in the Viking Period. It is postulated that as sea level dropped ayres* grew across the mouths of small bays enclosing the oyce and developing the new equilibrium coast line. This relationship between raised beach, ayre and oyce is well demonstrated at Rothiesholm Head on Stronsay." http://www.fettes.com/Orkney/sea%20level%20change.htm Now — and here's a bit of pure speculation — maybe the Brough became less attractive as a place of safety, a "fort island" (which is what Birsay/Byrgisey means) when the sea level fell once again? It seems odd that nothing much appears to have happened on the Brough from about the late twelfth century right down to the present day. Norman Tulloch *Air, aire, ayre, a gravelly beach; spec. of a spit of gravelly beach separating the outer sea from a lagoon behind. Usually there is an opening at one end of the air through which the sea ebbs and flows. Oyce, n. Also oyse. An inlet of the sea, esp. one which is almost cut off by a bar of shingle. (From our old chum at http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/) _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message