Geophysics suggests the Ness may not be the unique Neolithic site once thought
“Taking in an area of c.55 hectares, the remote sensing survey of land to the north of Bookan has been nothing short of revelatory.”… Continue reading
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Wednesday wildlife is back…
After its summer break, we’re back with a new series of Wednesday Wildlife – weekly gallery of photographs taken around the Ness of Brodgar by excavation director Nick Card.… Continue reading -
Touching our ancestors – the Ness and the SPOTtimespotTIME artwork
By Elaine Robinson Having had a lifelong interest in archaeology, imagine my excitement from the point of view as an artist who has been collecting fingerprints since 2015, when my attention was drawn to an article in April 2021 detailing the discovery of a 5,000-year-old fingerprint at the Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading -
Ness MRes studentship now available at UHI Archaeology Institute
A part-funded Masters by Research (MRes) studentship focusing on the faunal assemblage at the Ness of Brodgar is now available at the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute.… Continue reading
Enclosing the midden mound – Iron Age activity at the Ness
By Sigurd Towrie
Although the Ness of Brodgar is best known for its Neolithic archaeology, the isthmus was a focus of activity throughout prehistory and history.… Continue reading
Video – ‘Why Rocks?’
Today’s Orkney International Science Festival talk by Dr Martha Johnson, highlighting the Ness of Brodgar rocks that don’t fit the local geology, and showing clues to their origins.… Continue reading
Video – ‘The Ness in Rock and Stone’
Today’s Orkney International Science Festival talk featuring Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card, Ann Clark and Dr Antonia Thomas of the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute.… Continue reading
31st Orkney International Science Festival begins today with Ness talk scheduled for Sunday
The 31st annual Orkney International Science Festival begins today, Thursday, September 2, and runs until September 8.
On Sunday, September 5, the Dr Raymond Lamb Memorial Lecture is entitled The Ness in Rock and Stone and outlines some of the insights gained from the study of finds from the site.… Continue reading
Fourth fingerprint from Ness pottery belonged to an adult male
Examination of a fourth fingerprint found on pottery sherds from the Ness of Brodgar suggests it was left by an adult male.… Continue reading
Carved stone ball auction raised £425 for excavation funds
Our auction of a carved stone ball replica ended today at 5pm and raised £425 for Ness excavation funds.
The handmade, red sandstone artefact was created by Chris Gee, who donated it to the Ness of Brodgar Trust.… Continue reading
The final find of the season…before the cover-up began
Just when you think it’s all over, we have one last find to share with you – a delicately incised stone from Trench J.… Continue reading
That’s excavation done for another year so thank you all
Dig Diary – Day Thirty-Three
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Ah well, the inevitable has happened and this is our last day of excavation at the wonderful Ness of Brodgar.… Continue reading
One day left to visit the Ness before the site closes to the public
Dig Diary – Day Thirty-Two
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
How time flies.
The end of the season is nigh and if you’ve yet to visit the site, tomorrow is the last day it’s open to the public.… Continue reading
Another hammerstone and a site awash with planning frames
Dig Diary – Day Thirty-One
Monday, August 9, 2021
Well, readers, this is the beginning of the last week of the excavation campaign for this year.… Continue reading
A decorated stone slab on the floor of Structure Thirty-Two
Dig Diary – Day Thirty
Friday, August 6, 2021
It’s been a quiet sort of day at The Ness, with the only real noise and disturbance coming from a boisterous wind which has whistled and nagged across the site and, as the day draws to a close, seems only to be increasing in volume.… Continue reading
‘Painted’ stone in Structure Ten and a marvellous illustration of our puzzling pot
Dig Diary – Day Twenty-Nine
Thursday, August 5, 2021
So here we are rapidly approaching the end of our penultimate week of excavation. … Continue reading
A puzzling piece of pottery!
Dig Diary – Day Twenty-Eight
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Today has been busy, with sultry weather and, as close of play draws near, some dramatic thunder and lightning
However, work goes on and in the finds hut Anne is preparing to pack the very large pot which was found outside the blocked north-western entrance of Structure Twelve.… Continue reading
Can you help us cover the site next week?
Do you have a couple of hours (or more) to spare on Thursday, August 12, or Friday, August 13?
Yes, it’s that time of year again when we call for hardy volunteers to help us cover over the site for the winter.… Continue reading
Dig Diary Extra: Dr Jo McKenzie successfully recovers first timber sample
A video of Jo recovering the first of two Neolithic timber samples from the interior of Structure Twelve today. Apologies for the sound quality – the Orcadian wind is impossible to escape, even in the summer!… Continue reading
