Читать книгу The Isle of Skye. Graded walks and scrambles throughout Skye, including the Cuillin онлайн

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Unlike Mesolithic Man, who lived by hunting and gathering, and moved on in search of food, Neolithic Man preferred a more static existence, staying for longer periods in the same place. This accounts for the far greater number of Neolithic artefacts found not only among the Inner Hebrides, but generally throughout Britain. Neolithic Man moved to Britain from Europe about 6000 years ago, and brought stocks of cattle and sheep, sowing grain and living a simple farming existence.

About 2000 years later (c4000 years ago) the Beaker People appeared on the scene, also moving to Britain from Europe, especially from sites along the Rhine. They are so named from their practice of making ornate pottery. There are two particularly fine examples of chambered cairns dating from this period, one at Cnocan nan Gobhar (NG553173), and the other, reached from Glen Brittle, at Rubh’ an Dùnain (Walk 3.18).

By 3000 years ago, the first hillforts started appearing on Skye, signifying a sometime state of conflict between the local inhabitants and intruders. For about 800 years, hillforts dominated the landscape, varying in size, and usually consisting of a wall around an arrangement of internal buildings. Given the ready availability of wood on Skye, it is more than likely that the wall would have had a fence on top. They were all located on high ground, giving good views, and probably served as a focal point to which people living in surrounding homesteads might have retreated in times of danger.