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
Category: Artefacts
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
2024’s top finds – the ‘butterfly’ stone from Twelve’s eastern annexe
Behind this artefact is a long story, spanning years of excavation at the Ness. Read more
2024’s top finds – ‘stamped’ pottery sherd from Structure Forty
A first for the Ness - stamped decoration on a pottery vessel. Read more
2024’s top finds – Skara Brae-type stone dish from Trench T
We continue our look at this year's star finds with the Skara Brae-type stone dish from Trench T. Read more
2024’s top finds – the dog in the drain
This summer, in a corner of Structure Twelve, a few eyebrows were raised when excavation revealed the partial remains of a puppy in a drain! Read more
Sponsor a Square newsletter added to archive
Our latest newsletter has been added to the archive. Read more
Focus on finds: Structure Ten’s sea eagle foundation deposit
In August 2019 there was great excitement on site following what appeared to be the discovery of a second human arm bone in Structure Ten. Closer examination, however, revealed it to be the wing bone of a sea eagle. Read more
Diary Extra – 3d model of pillowstone fragment and a complete example
Paul Durdin’s latest 3d model – the rhodochrosite pillowstone fragment from Structure Thirty today.
Two other rhodochrosite pillowstones have been found on site – both in Structure Eight in 2011… Read more
A selection of the Ness of Brodgar’s finest on display in Orkney Museum
The Orkney Museum is playing host to some of the Ness of Brodgar’s finest artefacts this summer - most of which were part of last year's World of Stonehenge exhibition at the British Museum. Read more
Focus on finds: small clay balls
Three of the Ness of Brodgar’s small clay balls. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)
There were many puzzling finds over 20 years of excavation. Among those are the tiny, marble-sized, clay balls… Read more
Investigating multi-hollowed cobbles in the Orcadian Neolithic
UHI Archaeology Institute MRes student Gary Lloyd outlines his research project looking at multi-hollowed cobbles from the Ness of Brodgar. Read more
2022’s top ten: human remains between Structures Eight and Seventeen
Excavation of an orthostatic box in 2022, introduced an intriguing new element into the relationship between Structures Seventeen and Eight.
The box – which was clearly, given… Read more
2022’s top ten: the whalebone artefact
We remain in Trench J for today’s Top Ten entry.
A short distance to the north-west of the hearth mentioned on Saturday, and securely embedded into the floor of… Read more
2022’s top ten: Trench J’s trio of polished stone axes
In 2022, Trench J maintained its reputation for producing polished stone axes – with three beautiful examples adding to its growing total.
At the start of the season the… Read more
Pitchstone flake brings Ness total to 47
A flake of Arran pitchstone from the analysis of environmental samples from Structure Eight has brought the total from the Ness to 47. Read more
