BBC Radio Orkney

Past Lives

Factual: History

Uncovering the hidden gems of Scotland's past.

Past Lives: Series 15

Past Lives: Series 15: Episode 2

Episode 2

Series 15

BBC Radio Scotland - Past Lives, Series 15, Episode 2

Fire, steam, red-hot stones and a hint of wee. Mark Stephen explores Bronze Age Bressay.

Fire, steam, red hot stones and a subtle hint of wee. Mark Stephen explores fleece dyeing on Bronze Age Bressay, plus a very special Shetland shaggy dog story from Whalsay.

Fire, steam, red hot stones, and a subtle hint of wee. Mark Stephen gets into hands-on history as he joins the Bressay History Group to find out how Bronze Age people dyed fleeces in an ancient set-up called a burnt mound. It's not without its dangers of exploding stones, scalding water, stinging nettles and the 'ewwwww!' factor of just what you steep the wool in. Mark also explores a remarkable shaggy dog story of the Whalsay fishermen blown out to sea in an open fishing boat - did they really get to Philadelphia? Find out in Past Lives.

BBC Radio Scotland

Mark Stephen travels the length and breadth of Scotland to answer your history queries.

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