C O N T E X T 1 3 2 : N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3 19 HERITAGE AND NATIONHOOD STUART WEST A view from Orkney The approaching Scottish referendum raises questions of nationhood, heritage and identity. Which cultural identity would be appropriate for Orkney, for example? As 2014 draws closer, Scotland becomes an increasingly more interesting place for historians and conservation professionals, as advocates of both sides of the referendum debate look frequently towards history and heritage to legitimate their arguments and convince the populous of how to vote on 18 September. Drawing on notions of identity and concepts of self to further one’s political aims is not a new approach and it is arguably an effective tactic. The main difficulty in using such an approach during peaceful times lies in ensuring that passion and pride are evoked in a positive way, without alienating elements of the community or creating damaging societal divisions, and by taking care to deftly arrange the complex strands of history in order to see themwoven suitably to support one’s own vision of the future. When seeking to instil a particular notion of identity, one must identify the period which provides the greatest support to one’s argument, which is not compromised by an alternative moment in time.This is especially difficult in territories that have a rich cultural heritage, reflected in their historic written accounts, built environment and archaeological record, but any prominent architectural styles and cultural traditions of a place can be of great influence. By far the most well-known facet of Orkney’s history is its monumental archaeology but this is in no way all that the islands have to offer in terms of built heritage. While the majority of modern domestic buildings on Orkney are of ubiquitous kit construction, there are examples of award-winning civic architecture, such as the St Magnus Centre and the Pier Arts Centre, which Excavations underway at Ness of Brodgar, where the finds date back to around 3000bc. So far less than a tenth of the site has been excavated. (Photo: Hugo AndersonWhymark)
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