Third 5,000-year-old figurine found at Orkney dig

[Christa Jenneman]

Third 5,000-year-old figurine found at Orkney dig




Orkney find [CROWN COPYRIGHT REPRODUCED COURTESY OF HISTORIC SCOTLAND] The new find will go on display at the Westray Heritage Centre

A third 5,000-year-old hand-carved figurine has been discovered during excavations on Orkney.

Archaeologists had previously unearthed two ancient figurines in 2009 and 2010 at the dig at Links of Noltland in Westray.

All three will go on display at the Westray Heritage Centre.

Alasdair McVicar, chair of the Westray Heritage Trust, said: "The discovery of these figurines has really put Westray and the heritage centre on the map."

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "There was understandable excitement when the first figurine, believed to be the earliest artistic representation of the human form ever found in the UK, was found in 2009.

"To now be able to say that two more examples have been uncovered is unprecedented."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19397929