Enjoy a virtual tour of treasured brochs and settlements

Shetland’s rich and varied history over the past 6,000 years can be traced through a number of prestigious archaeological discoveries dating from the Neolithic period through the Iron Age and Viking era through to the medieval age.

Among the most fascinating are a host of Iron Age brochs and settlements to be found at various locales around the islands. Three of the most renowned of those monuments are the subject of a new interactive iBook including 360° virtual walkable tours around some of the islands’ most notable archaeological wonders.

They represent a very distinctive cultural heritage, stemming from the unique historical developments bequeathed to the islands by virtue of its location at the crossroads between Scotland and Norway.

The new iBook, entitled Shetland in the Iron Age, has been developed by Dr Li Sou and takes users on tours around three monuments currently on the UK's "tentative list for world heritage status": the broch and iron age village at Old Scatness, the prehistoric and Norse settlement at Jarlshof, and Mousa Broch, a 1,700-year-old, 13-metre tall roundhouse widely regarded as the best preserved structure of its kind.

Virtual visitors can use the iBook to wander the monuments’ inner workings using staircases and corridors as if they were on site. It also includes links to information, interviews, historic photographs and worksheets for schools’ use.

The iBook will be launched on 26-27 May at Shetland Museum and Archives in Lerwick, whose own collection carries recognised national significance, bringing the monuments to life.

Li recently completed a PHD at the University of Bradford in conjunction with Historic Environment Scotland’s digital interpretation team and Shetland Amenity Trust’s archaeology section.

She said the team were delighted to finally be able to present the iBook to the public.

“It has been designed to make the famed Shetland archaeological sites more accessible to all, even if you aren’t there,” Li said. “The iBook format is not very well known in the heritage sector, so the project is an excellent resource that gives users a chance to explore the sites as if they were there in real life.

“It can be used on lots of different levels and is suitable for teachers, families, folk working in tourism, and everyone with an interest in Mousa, Jarlshof and Old Scatness Broch.”

Shetland’s regional archaeologist Val Turner said the new iBook would be “invaluable in helping the general visitor to enjoy these sites”.

Alongside next week's launch will be a series of archaeological talks.

Li will be summarising some of her key research findings, while other guest speakers include Lyn Wilson of Historic Environment Scotland, who has been at the forefront of creating accurate 3D models of historic assets.

Professor Andy Wilson from Bradford will discuss developing the use of digital recording on archaeological sites, Gavin Douglas of the University of Stirling will explain how well stonework survives on excavated sites and what that might tell us about looking after sites in the face of climate change, while Val will reveal what lies ahead for Old Scatness.

Click here to book tickets to the talks, which take place in the museum on Thursday (26 May) from 6-9pm.

Folk can also drop into the museum on Friday afternoon to watch Li demonstrating how to use the iBook, which will be available to browse on iPads in the museum foyer and the visitor centre at Old Scatness.

· Old Scatness Broch and Iron Age Village opens for the summer season on Friday 29 May and will be open each Friday until the end of August for guided tours, with advance booking advised.