# Knap of Howar — WHE Definition Discussion **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [October 17, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/knap-of-howar-whe-definition-discussion/16890 "2012-10-17T20:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JPryst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/jpryst/32/168_2.png) [@JPryst](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/JPryst)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/knap-of-howar-whe-definition-discussion/16890/1 "2012-10-17T20:16:08Z")
The Knap of Howar is a Neolithic site on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney, Scotland. The name is Old Norse for `mound of mounds' or `large barrow'. The building preserved at the site is considered the oldest stone house in northern Europe and is dated to 3700-3500 BCE. The site consists of two structures, commonly referred to as `the farmstead', built through dry stone construction with an adjoining passageway between them. Based upon archaeological excavations, it is thought that these structures were built on top of a much older site and formed the centre of a farming establishment. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Knap\_of\_Howar/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Knap_of_Howar/)._ ---
**Author:** ![JPryst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/jpryst/32/168_2.png) [@JPryst](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/JPryst)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/knap-of-howar-whe-definition-discussion/16890/2 "2026-07-31T05:31:31Z")