Hi everyone - my name is Valerie Shank and my mother's parent's families both came from Orkney - Jean Cutt and John Dearness. I would like to know if anyone knows the approximate date of publication or any other information concerning two books: AROUND THE ORKNEY PEAT FIRES - by W. R. Mackintosh Kirkwall: printed at the "Orcadian" office. This book came from J.S.Muir from Roek? and given to my grandfather, J. Dearness. THE ORKNEY BOOK by John Gunn published by John Nelson & Sons. Jessie Scott from Dundas, Ontario is the signature on the cover page. I believe they are both very old books and seem to have a wealth of information in them. Let me hear from you. Thank you.

The latest set of scans on the Ness of Brodgar continue to shed light on the Ring of Brodgar and the landscape around it - in particular another massive settlement discovered immediately to the north of the stone circle. Full story at: http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/brodgargeophs2.htm -- Sigurd Towrie Blackhall - Kirbister - Stromness - Orkney Heritage of Orkney: www.orkneyjar.com Home: sigurd@orkneyjar.com Work: sigurd.towrie@orcadian.co.uk