Win a carved stone ball…
Our virtual dig season for 2020 may be over, but now we’ve got our sights firmly set on 2021.
The closure of the site this summer has, as expected, had… Read more
The Ness of Brodgar complex
Discovered in 2003, the Ness of Brodgar site has been under excavation since 2004, revealing a massive complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating from the centuries around 3000BC.
Without parallel in Atlantic Europe, the Ness of Brodgar’s three hectares are filled with huge stone structures containing spectacular finds.
These have made the Ness one of the most important archaeological excavations in the world today, changing our understanding of the culture and beliefs of Neolithic Orkney and shining a new light on the prehistory of northern Europe.
The project is mainly funded through the generosity of the public through our two supporting charities, the Ness of Brodgar Trust and the American Friends.
From the Art Hut – connecting…
By Diane Eagles
Owing to the dig being cancelled this year because of Covid restrictions, I moved my residency to daily Instagram posts.
I had been working on ideas for… Read more
A sad anniversary…
A year ago today we said a very sad farewell to one of the trusted, popular and loyal members of the Ness team – site director Nick’s dog Bryn, who… Read more
The Ness – a place of compulsive building, rebuilding and alteration
Diary – Friday, August 14, 2020
Day Thirty
The weather saw excavation on this day in 2012 cancelled. Torrential rain lashed the site for much of the day, leaving surfaces… Read more
Introducing ceramics 4 – why the changes?
The hunt is on for clues, for any evidence of change through time. If you are a historian that can come in a dusty library as you leaf through old documents. Read more
Structure Eight – the mystery of the elusive entrance solved!
Diary – Thursday, August 13, 2020
Day Twenty-Nine
We begin today with another pillow stone – this time from Structure Fourteen in 2013.
The beautifully polished stone, similar to the… Read more
From the Art Hut – in it for the long haul
By Karen Wallis
As this is my last blog for the virtual dig diary, I’m going to take a look back over the whole of my residency to date.
The… Read more
Standing stones appear outside Structure Twelve
Diary – Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Day Twenty-Seven
It was all go on in Structure Ten on this day in 2011.
Further excavation of the central hearth revealed it to… Read more
A master of his art – Jim Richardson photographs from around the Ness
Jim Richardson visiting the Ness in 2019. (📷 Jo Bourne)
In 2012, Jim Richardson visited the Ness to capture images for a planned National Geographic feature article.
The resultant images… Read more
Structure Eight’s second polished ‘pillow stone’
2011: Sarah reveals that the hearth in Structure Ten, despite suffering from subsidence, was indeed complete. (📷 ORCA)
Diary – Tuesday, August 12, 2020Day Twenty-Seven
The size and grandeur of… Read more
Reconstruction drawing – man explaining Structure Twelve leaks
Structure Twelve, having structural issues and likely roof leaks, is discussed. Read more
More cupmarked, dressed and painted stone
Diary – Monday, August 10, 2020
Day Twenty-Six
The 2011 investigation of the area around the presumed entrance to Structure Ten struck gold today – wall lines!
These, however, were… Read more
Focus on finds – beads
The Ness site has unearthed a selection of stone and amber beads, showing high-quality craftsmanship. Read more
Reduced Ness team head east for Bronze Age fieldwalk
Diggers and Finds Team volunteers come from far and wide to excavate the Ness of Brodgar but there is also a core of folk in Orkney who give their summers… Read more
Orkney’s prehistory – the Iron Age
Our brief guide to Orkney’s prehistory has been updated, with a new page outlining the Iron Age in the islands.
Click here to read.… Read more
Introducing ceramics 3 – how was Neolithic pottery made?
How was Neolithic pottery made, and in particular the Grooved Ware pottery from the Ness of Brodgar? Read more
The momentous day we found our carved stone ball
2012: Exposed rubble deposits at the south end of Structure Eight. (📷 ORCA)
Dig Diary – Friday, August 7, 2020Day Twenty-Five
2012: The Structure Twelve coloured pot sherd. (📷 ORCA)… Read more
Limited number of carved stone ball replicas back in stock
Seven years ago today we found the only example of a carved stone ball from the Ness to date.
After a tremendous response to the first batch, we have… Read more
Degrees of separation – a brief guide to the flotation process
The recovery of large artefacts, such as stone tools and pottery, is just one part of the excavation process. What about the tiny items and organic material that are a… Read more
Three new buildings and a decommissioning feast for Structure Twenty-Seven
Dig Diary – Thursday, August 6, 2020
Day Twenty-Four
We begin today in 2012 – another damp day in which activity on site was hampered by rain.
… Read more
The first excavation at the Ness
Anyone who has been on a tour of the Ness will be familiar with the story of the notched slab that started it all.
The slab, which had been ploughed… Read more
From the Art Hut – finding finds…
By Karen Wallis
During my first season as Artist in Residence, I was impressed by the range of what could be termed a “find” – from decorated… Read more
