Neolithic Pasts, Neolithic Futures: The Contemporary Socio-politics of Prehistoric Landscapes

Designating Orkney's Neolithic landscapes as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) in the 1990s has significantly reshaped global perceptions of Scotland's Neolithic period, highlighting its unique socio-political and cultural importance. This recognition, overlapping with a National Scenic Area, created a synergistic effect that offers valuable lessons for heritage management. The study reviews how this designation influences broader interpretations of Scotland’s Neolithic past while examining the contemporary implications of preserving such landscapes.

MacGregor, G. (2016). Neolithic Pasts, Neolithic Futures: The Contemporary Socio-politics of Prehistoric Landscapes. The Neolithic of Mainland Scotland. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748685721.003.0002