VHS,BOOKS,DVD'S,CD'S on the Orkney Islands

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The Orkney Islands, a group of over 70 islands and islets (about 20 are inhabited) north of the Scottish mainland, were the Orcades of ancient classical literature. The Orkney Islands were formed by glacial erosion of the core sandstone, limestone, and igneous rocks into hills, covered by glacial deposits. Proof of prehistoric activity remains: underground houses, circles of standing stones, and earth houses. Skara Brae is one of the most comprehensive European relics of the late Neolithic Period. Celtic missionaries arrived in the 7th century followed by Norse raiders in the late 8th century who colonized the islands in the 9th century; subsequently the islands were ruled by Norway and Denmark. Orkney and Shetland passed into Scottish rule in 1472 in reparation for the failure to pay the dowry of Margaret of Denmark, queen of James III. ---