Wondered if anyone could tell me if that is a real whalebone at Birsay that we see all those photos taken near, and how long has the thing been there? Pat Tirabasso

On 29/03/04 at 07:20 Tirabasso wrote: >Wondered if anyone could tell me if that is a real whalebone at Birsay >that we see all those photos taken near, and how long has the thing been >there? Yes it is real. Noone really knows how longs its been there other than its been there for over a century. For those not familiar with it, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/portfolio/portp50.htm for an image. S.

Sigurd Towrie wrote: >On 29/03/04 at 07:20 Tirabasso wrote: > > > >>Wondered if anyone could tell me if that is a real whalebone at Birsay >>that we see all those photos taken near, and how long has the thing been >>there? >> >> > >Yes it is real. Noone really knows how longs its been there other than its been there for over a century. > >For those not familiar with it, see http://www.orkneyjar.com/portfolio/portp50.htm for an image. > >S. > > As Sigurd says, it is genuine, but it is beginning to show its age now. It is held together with cunningly hidden stainless steel bolts to help preserve it a bit longer. I'm sure I read somewhere that there were moves afoot to make a cast of it and mould a replica in glass fibre. Somehow I don't think it would be quite the same. -- Mike Clouston