Incised stone fragment turns up during environmental sample processing
Working through the Ness environmental samples, environmental archaeologist Cecily Webster has found another tiny fragment of decorated stone. Read more
Category: Artefacts
Link: Biographies of Orcadian Neolithic axes paper now available
The first paper from the 'At the Cutting Edge: The Biographies of Orcadian Neolithic Axes' project been published in the journal Antiquity. Read more
Making and using Skaill knives – new paper in Journal of Lithic Studies
The results of a new study exploring how Skaill knives were made and used have been published in a new paper in the Journal of Lithic Studies. Read more
Out of chaos comes order – research continues on Ness stone tools
UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student Gary Lloyd on his ongoing research into coarse stone tools at the Ness. Read more
Focus on finds: Skaill knives (and how to make them)
A look at 'Skaill knives' - a very common Neolithic stone tool - their use and fabrication. Read more
Focus on finds: haematite
Excavation revealed the use of coloured pigment on pottery and walls, specifically using haematite for red hues. Read more
Worked-stone specialist’s welcome return to the Ness
We were delighted to welcome our worked-stone specialist, Ann Clarke, back to Ness HQ this week. Read more
100 years on: the discovery of the ‘Brodgar Stone’ at Ness complex site
100 years ago this week the 'Brodgar Stone' was found - a taste of things to come. Read more
Three-week internship examining the Ness of Brodgar’s stone discs
Some thoughts on the Ness of Brodgar's stone discs from intern Maria van de Fliert. Read more
2024’s top finds – incised stone slab from Structure Twenty
Another beautiful example of an incised stone slab, this time from Structure Ten's predecessor. Read more
2024’s top finds – worked bone
Soil acidity at the Ness means worked bone and bone tools are something of a rarity. But 2024 saw four well-preserved examples emerge. Read more
2024’s top finds – the decorated clay cylinder from Structure Twenty
The remarkable, but enigmatic, object found in Structure Twenty, underneath Structure Ten. Read more
2024’s top finds – child’s tooth from a stone box in Structure Thirty-Four
Another of the season's most surprising finds – a child’s milk tooth from one of the orthostatic boxes in Structure Thirty-Four. Read more
2024’s top finds – another two of Ceiridwen’s decorated stones
Another two of the five decorated stones found by Ceiridwen in and around Structure Seventeen in 2024. Read more
2024’s top finds – the stone axe that once rivalled our finest
The poorly preserved remains of a once-beautiful polished stone axe were described as one of the Ness' greatest 'might-have-beens'. Read more
2024’s top finds – Ceiridwen’s decorated stone pair
To find one decorated stone at the Ness was always a notable occasion - imagine finding two, which is what Ceiridwen did this season. Read more
