EXTRACTION Please choose one ADMINISTRATION AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS COMMUNICATIONS CONFLICT CULTIVATION ENCLOSURES ENERGY EXTRACTION FLOODING GRAZINGS HOUSING KNOWLEDGE LEISURE MANUFACTURE PERCEPTION SETTLEMENTS TRADES Flora and fauna Stone, sand and gravel Minerals Marine resources Coastal resources Fuels Kelp kiln, Eday, Orkney Kelp (seaweed) was gathered, dried and burnt as a raw material in the making of soap and glass, as well as in bleaching textiles. The varieties used were mostly wracks, cut from around the shores. Washed-up seaweed was also used but considered inferior. The dried seaweed was burnt in shallow, stone-lined pits such as this. To give an idea of scale, the stick at the back of the pit is about 800mm long. Production peaked in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when wars disrupted the supply of imported Spannish barilla, a superior alternative. Once peace returned prices for burnt kelp collapsed, never to recover. Resource pack   1     2     3     4