Buildings through time: Structure Five
For the last in our series looking at the excavation of each major building on site over time, we turn to Trench J and Structure Five – the earliest building uncovered on site so far.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Structures-5-32-1.jpg?resize=683%2C380&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/S5-2008.jpg?resize=700%2C465&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/tj-2008.jpg?resize=700%2C465&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/S5-2008-aerial.jpg?resize=700%2C711&ssl=1)
![2017: After nine years under the covers, Trench J was re-opened in 2017. Structure Five is pictured at the start of the season after the removal of the backfill. (Scott Pike)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/s5-2017.jpg?resize=700%2C720&ssl=1)
![2017: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall' at the end of the excavation season. (Scott Pike)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2017-s5-end.jpg?resize=700%2C722&ssl=1)
![2018: Trench J was extended to take in the western end of Structure Five - pictured here to the right. (Scott Pike)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/st5-2018.jpg?resize=700%2C525&ssl=1)
![2018: Drone shot of Structure Five at the end of the excavation season. The later Structure Thirty-Two is beginning to emerge, on top of Structure Five, to the left of the picture. (Scott Pike)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2018-trenchJ.jpg?resize=700%2C535&ssl=1)
![2019: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall' at the end of the season. (Scott Pike)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2019-trenchJ.jpg?resize=700%2C560&ssl=1)
![2023: Structure Five and the 'Great Wall'. (📷 Tom O'Brien)](https://i0.wp.com/www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/s5-2023.jpg?resize=1024%2C688&ssl=1)
See also
- Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’ (September 2023)
- ‘Dresser’ remains in Structure Five (July 2023)
- Structure Five and the ‘Great Wall’ (August 2022)
- Worked whalebone artefact (July 2022)
- Structure Five (July 2021)
- Trench J (August 2019)
- Trench J – end of season (August 26, 2018)
- Trench J (August 7, 2018)