Shetland's history in 100 sites

Over 7,000 years of Shetland’s rich archaeological and social history is under the microscope with a new course at Shetland UHI; The History of Shetland in 100 Sites.

The brainchild of archaeologist Dr Simon Clarke, the course charts the history of human occupation in Shetland by examining historic sites, from a Mesolithic shell midden in West Voe to a still-operational RAF radar station on Unst, and 98 others in between.

Shetland UHI is running the course and it’s an SCQF 6 qualification – the same level as a National Certificate. Dr Clarke says that the course has already attracted a lot of interest from professionals in the local tourist industry, thanks to its focus on sites from across Shetland’s history, but would be perfect for any history fan.

“The course allows people to talk about sites which are right next to each other, but thousands of years apart” Dr Clarke says, noting that just by Sumburgh Airport there’s a Bronze Age settlement, an Iron Age broch and a WWII air base in adjacent fields. “There’s quite a lot of that!”

The course has been split into two parts; the first being a series of video conference seminars (which are accessible after the fact for any late-joining students) and the second module being a programme of eight field trips to sites from Sumburgh to the Northern Isles –once the weather gets a bit better, of course!

The modules can be done together or separately, with Module 1 being accessible online from anywhere in the word, but obviously the field trips in Module 2 do require you to be in Shetland, preferably with good walking boots! While the course has just started, there’s room for more and any virtual seminars that have already taken place are recorded for late-joining students.

Dr Clarke hopes that by learning about the spectrum of Shetland’s history, it will get people thinking about the historical possibilities of sites across the isles, and beyond.

“Shetland has a fully surviving ancient landscape,” Dr Clarke says. “Once you see what you’re looking for, they’re very easy to spot and understand.”

“I’m delighted that we are offering this new History of Shetland in 100 Sites course,” says Jane Lewis, principal and CEO of Shetland UHI. “It is an exciting opportunity to support local learning and interest in Shetland’s rich history and heritage, to a wide audience”