Ness of Brodgar Excavation
Further afield: Cuween chambered cairn
“Set some way upslope, they also looked down on land where settlements had been established for some time. Held at a respectful distance, the spirits of each place kept an eye on the living....
Around the Ness in the 19th century with George Washington Wilson
We were delighted to learn this week that the University of Aberdeen’s George Washington Wilson photographic archive is free to access online. Operating from Aberdeen, on the Scottish mainland, in the latter half of...
Wednesday wildlife – hunters and prey
Our weekly showcase of wildlife photographs from Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card.
Prehistoric quernstone is latest evidence of Early Neolithic settlement site on outskirts of Kirkwall
The discovery of a huge prehistoric quernstone is the latest evidence of an Early Neolithic settlement on the outskirts of Kirkwall, Orkney. Ploughing near Saverock, St Ola, uncovered the saddle quern, which was spotted...
Potter’s fingerprint discovered on 5,000-year-old sherd
In Orkney, around 5,000 years ago, a Neolithic potter sat down and began work. In the process of creating their vessel, the potter pressed a finger into the wet clay and left an imprint...
Wednesday wildlife – all around the lochs
This week’s superb selection of photographs from dig director Nick Card.
Time for the old house to die? – henges and houses in the Neolithic
“The first decayed and new ones were made. And in time the new ones became old, yet still they were rings of timber – though now the rings were trimmed posts raised within a...
Evidence of fine ceramics at the Ness?
By Roy Towers Many of you will be familiar with the work of Cecily Webster, our eagle-eyed flotation expert, and her assistant, Travis. Their task is to take the buckets full of carefully gathered...
Wednesday wildlife – enjoying the sun
It’s been a week of it in Orkney – gales, rain and snow! But thankfully, in between all that, there’s been plenty of sunshine. Although the sun struggled to raise temperatures, it provided the...
Stratigraphy – unlocking the story of the Ness
One very crucial aspect of post-excavation work is the analysis of the stratigraphy and the creation of chronological phases for the site which all this information can be related to. Previously, we introduced our...
Not all monuments were created equal: part two
‘Expedient architecture’ and the Neolithic long cairns of Orkney Part one available here By Sigurd Towrie Point of Cott, Westray, Orkney Under threat of destruction, due to coastal erosion, the long cairn at the...
Woodturned pieces on offer to benefit Ness excavation fund – SOLD
Both pieces have now been sold – thank you for your support. Orcadian woodturner Michael Sinclair has made another two beautiful bowls which are being offered to Ness followers to help boost our excavation...
