-- History --
Mousa has been inhabited for at least 3000 years. It's only in
the relatively recent past, in the 19th century, that the island
was cleared of it's human population. The oldest signs of human
presence are the Bronze age burnt mounds, which were believed
to be communal cooking sites.
The
world famous Iron age Broch is one of Scotlands most important
prehistoric sites. Brochs are unique to Scotland and Mousa Broch
is the best preserved example of this type of stone structure
in existance. The Broch was built over 2000 years ago when disputes
over land were common and every community needed a stronghold
to protect themselves.
The
Norse Orkneyinga saga recounts that in 1153 Erland abducted Margaret,
the mother of Earl Harold, and took her to 'Moseyarborg' where
everything had been made ready. Earl Harold beseiged the Broch
but found it 'an unhandy place to attack'. Eventually the two
sides reconciled and Erland married Margaret.
Around
the ruin of the Haa or Lairds house you can still see the remains
of the crofters houses left abandoned when the land was cleared
in the 19th century. Nowadays Mousa is visited by people not only
to see the Broch and the island but to see the amazing wildlide,
in particular the storm petrels, which now call Mousa their home. |
