Shetland’s Iron Age sites still in the running for UNESCO recognition

THREE important Iron Age sites in Shetland remain on the tentative list of seven sites to be put forward in an application process to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Jarlshof, Old Scatness and Mousa Broch are a collection of ancient settlements known as the Zenith of Iron Age Shetland.

The UK Government has today (Monday) confirmed that the Shetland sites remain in the running for the coveted status.

The department for media, culture and sport publishes a list of tentative sites it feels have the best chance of succeeding every ten years. There are seven sites on the list.

The government said it will now work with local authorities and devolved administrations to develop their bids.

Shetland regional archaeologist Dr Val Turner said: “We are thrilled and excited to remain on the new tentative list and hope to progress to nomination within the next ten years.

“We have already experienced the benefits of being on the previous tentative list, which has attracted first-class research to Shetland.

“We are currently working to conserve Old Scatness – a key milestone along the road.

The other sites on the current tentative list are York city centre, Birkenhead Park, the Little Cayman marine parks and protected areas, as well as the east Atlantic flyway, a migratory bird route over western parts of Europe including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent,

Two sites which submitted their full nominations to UNESCO earlier this year also remain on the list.

One is The Flow Country, a large area of peatland across Caithness and Sutherland, and the Gracehill Moravian Church Settlement in Northern Ireland.