Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland Apr 19, 2024

At the heart of the Orkney Islands, an archipelago in northern Scotland, lies an ancient riddle: the Ring of Brodgar. Dating back to sometime between 2500 and 2000 BCE, this Neolithic henge—a type of ancient circular earthwork—and stone circle measure about 103 metres across. Lying on a narrow strip of land between two lochs, the site initially comprised 60 stones, although today only 36 remain. The exact purpose of the structure is still unknown; in 2008, an excavation project called the Ring of Brodgar Excavation was undertaken to try to learn more about the site, but the project has not yet reached any conclusive results. In 1999, the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, which includes the Ring of Brodgar, was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are planning a trip to Scotland, consider walking amid the echoes of history at the Ring of Brodgar while the crisp Scottish air embraces you.

© Paul Williams - FunkyStock/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 19, 2025Zion National Park, Utah, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 11, 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Jul 31, 2024Hoodoos, Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Mar 1, 2025Aurora borealis over Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, Canada
Jan 30, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Jan 15, 2026The fishing village of Reine, Norway
Jul 14, 2024La Geria wine region, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Jul 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
Nov 11, 2023Val di Funes, South Tyrol, Italy
May 8, 2025Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United States
Sep 21, 2025Sea otters, Alaska
Jun 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Oct 15, 2023European hedgehog
Nov 10, 2025Black-tailed prairie dogs
May 1, 2025Plumeria flowers, Hawaii, United States
Dec 5, 2025Maya site of Copán, Honduras
Mar 5, 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
Sep 28, 2025Town of Pienza in Tuscany, Italy
Apr 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Oct 6, 2024Coyote Gulch, Glen Canyon Recreation Area, Utah
Sep 19, 2025Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
Nov 4, 2023American bison
Nov 5, 2024Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
Nov 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
May 25, 2024Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Jun 3, 2024Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
Jul 26, 2024Pont Neuf over the Seine, Paris, France
Feb 13, 2025Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia
Sep 2, 2025Camel thorn trees, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
Apr 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States