The archaeological sites of Orkney give us an unparalleled glimpse into prehistory. Inscribed as the 'Heart of Neolithic Orkney' World Heritage Site in 1999, four great monuments - the village of Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and the burial mound of Maeshowe - are also at the center of the archipelago's story. This book looks at what makes these monuments so special. Caroline Wickham-Jones explores the Neolithic world in which they were built, how they came to be a focus through the ages, and what they mean today. Picts, saints, Vikings, antiquarians and tourists populate Orkney's past: a history which is channeled through these 'dances of stones'. This new second edition replaces the highly successful and widely used first edition, which sold over 1,000 copies. The text has been fully updated to take account of recent discoveries and research including the now world famous site Ness of Brodgar. In addition there are over thirty new images including stunning photographs of Orkney's archaeology and landscape.