Orkney's artefacts 'absolutely essential' to understanding our past, says Mary Beard

Eminent historian Professor Mary Beard visited Orkney last week to formally open an exhibition of two decades of findings from the Ness of Brodgar excavation. 

‘Ness of Brodgar: Past, Present and Future’ is the largest exhibition ever to be hosted at The Orkney Museum, run by Orkney Islands Council. 

While here, Mary also toured St Magnus Cathedral and The Orkney Museum with our Culture team. 

During her visit, Mary said she has come away convinced that to understand the history of the British Isles you need to 'turn them upside down' and ‘start north’. 

And she described the wealth of artefacts in Orkney as ‘absolutely essential’ to understanding Britain’s long term history, and what the distant past might look like. 

Come see for yourself – www.orkneymuseums.co.uk

Watch a video of her visit, here.

For more about the flagship Ness of Brodgar exhibition, read our previous press release.