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The story begins about 10000 years ago. The last Ice Age
has ended, (after a brief re-advance circa 13,000 – 11500 years
ago), and the ice sheets have retreated northwards. Raasay lies
open and bare, shaved clean by the passage of time and 650-700 meters
of ice. By 9000 years ago the land is bursting with new life, a
haze of grass covers the lower hills and stands of Hazel and Birch
sunbath in the sheltered corries and glens. Across the Sound of
Raasay, in the distant north-west, on the island of Skye, a pillar
of smoke can be seen rising from the fires of the first settlers
to journey through the islands. On a calm sunny day it is easy to
imagine these Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) travellers crossing
to Raasay on hunting trips or perhaps to gather limpets or Hazelnuts.
Their trips to Raasay being part of a seasonal round governed by
the availability and location of scarce food resources. Evidence
of their visits to Raasay has recently been discovered in caves
at the north of the island and on the shore close to Raasay house.
(Wickham-Jones, C.R. and Hardy, K.)
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