Lunchtime at Jarlshof

Gales this morning, but feels less so tonight.  Some blue skies, but mostly cloudy all day.  Rain due later tonight. 

Last day of the week working in the airport.  I've been on the check-in desk all day, and a fairly busy day of passengers.  It was the last day for colleague Gwen, who has been wonderful to work with, and helped me out many a time.  I'm helping out in the Cornerstone this evening, as owner, Terry, is away on holidays.  

After a week of exploring old buildings in the south end, I had to finish with one last one.  I've been to Jarlshof many times, but it always fascinates me.  The site has to be the best in the UK, spanning over 4,000 years.  Oldest finds are neolithic, dating 2,700bc, then into the bronze age round houses, an Iron age broch and wheelhouses, then Viking long houses, to a medieval farm house 14th century, with the last building being a 16th century laird house.  Wonder if it's even older, as a mesolithic site dating about 4,000bc is close by, where our oldest resident stayed.  The site was discovered after a gale exposed it in the 19th century, later excavated in the 20th century.  How many people have lived here, various happy times, with hard and sad times too.  This is part of a wheelhouse and the laird house behind.  Taken at Jarlshof, Sumburgh.