Wednesday wildlife – a final flurry before excavation resumes
A final selection of photographs from the dig director, Nick Card, before excavation at the Ness of Brodgar resumes next week.
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Structure Thirty
The large curving wall face belonging to Structure Thirty protrudes from the edge of Trench P to the south-east of Structure Twelve. There is not much that can be said about Thirty, given the fact...
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Structures Twenty-One and Twenty-Nine
Structure Twenty-One To the west of Structure One, and protruding from the side of Trench P, is Structure Twenty-One’s northern wall. Only the eastern end of the building, which was built c3200BC but slightly later...
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Can you help us uncover the site?
In just over a week we’ll be back on site for the first time since 2019. But before the archaeological work can begin the protective covers need to come off. These are held down by...
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Structure Sixteen
The heavily truncated remains of Structure Sixteen sit directly to the south of Structure Fourteen in Trench P. Measuring approximately five metres by three metres, and aligned northwest-southeast, it seems this small building was an...
Wednesday wildlife – new arrivals
Some photographs from site director Nick Card of the latest young arrivals at the Ness of Brodgar.
Structures Thirty-Six and Twenty
The third part of a series looking at the lesser-known buildings at the Ness of Brodgar excavation site. Structure Thirty-Six When Structure Fourteen was constructed in the northern corner of Trench P, it was placed...
Woodturned petrosphere and bowl on offer to benefit Ness excavation fund – SOLD
Both pieces have now been sold – thank you for your support. Orcadian woodturner Michael Sinclair has crafted another two beautiful – and unique – pieces to offer Ness followers to help boost excavation funds....
Analysis suggests two young men left fingerprints on Ness pottery fragment
In April we shared the exciting news that the fingerprint of a Neolithic potter was found on a ceramic sherd recovered from Trench X. We can now tell you that we have not one but...
Structures Twenty-Eight, Twenty-Three and Thirty-Three
The second part of our series looking at the lesser-known buildings at the Ness of Brodgar, continues with three early constructions in the south-eastern section of Trench P – Structures Twenty-Eight, Twenty-Three and Thirty-Three. Structure...
Structures Seventeen and Eighteen
One of the most commonly asked questions by visitors to the excavation is about the the structure numbers – how they are allocated and what do they represent? The answer is quite simple. The numbers...
New landscape card designs added to online shop
Our first run of fundraising card packs featuring scenes from in and around the Ness of Brodgar has sold out, so we’ve got a brand new set, featuring all-new images from Nick Card, Jim Richardson...
Around the Ness: Big Howe
Stand in the centre of the Stones of Stenness today and a short distance to the south-east, in the adjacent field, you will see a low mound. This is Big Howe, all that remains of a large Iron Age feature that once dominated an area 150 metres away from the stone circle.
Wednesday wildlife – the march to midsummer
This week’s selection of photographs from site director Nick Card.
Prehistoric deer carvings in Argyll are a first for Scotland
We’re no strangers to Neolithic art at the Ness of Brodgar, but our examples are either circular cupmarks or geometric designs. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has confirmed yesterday that prehistoric animal carvings, thought to be...
Further afield: Quanterness chambered cairn
“Situated on a gentle declivity, under the brow of Wideford Hill, it looks towards the North Isles.” Rev George Barry. The History of the Orkney Islands. (1805) By Sigurd Towrie The Quanterness passage grave is...
The Bay of Skaill trail
We bring this week to a close they way we started it – with another trail! This time we head to the west coast of the Orkney Mainland and take a wander around the Bay...
University board recommends closure of Sheffield archaeology department
University of Sheffield archaeology staff and students were informed yesterday that the university executive board are recommending closing the department and retaining certain areas of research and teaching. We were shocked and very disappointed to...
Wednesday wildlife – feathered friends
We’re back with a selection of photographs from the camera of Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card.
