Sherd nerd life – a clay portal to the past and a lottery winÂ
A lovely piece by journalist and Ness volunteer Huw Williams on this summer's pottery triage project. Read more
Category: Ceramics
A clay bead? Or something else entirely?
Looking at a clay object under investigation this week. Is it a rare example of a clay bead? Or something completely different? Read more
Letting the dust settle – pottery triage project comes to an end
Our six-week pottery triage project came to an end this afternoon. A big thank-you to all the volunteers who made their way back to Ness HQ to help out. Read more
Ceiridwen’s photographs capture the pottery triage process
A selection of photographs from pottery triage volunteer Ceiridwen Blakesley. Read more
Triage volunteers recording pottery sherds of all shapes and sizes
A mixed bag of finds from week five of our ceramics triage project - including a stunning example of decorated Neolithic pottery. Read more
Time Team back on site along with new pottery triage volunteers
Week two of the pottery triage project also saw Time Team's Dr John Gater back on site... Read more
Fingerprint specialist drops in at Ness HQ during Scottish road trip
Professor Kent Fowler, from the University of Manitoba, paid us a visit last week during his road trip around Scotland. Read more
More examples of the ‘complex and endlessly varied’ pottery from the Ness
More beautiful examples of Neolithic ceramics catalogued during the post-excavation process. Read more
Puzzling but precise – intrigued by impressions on pottery sherds
We find fingerprints, cord, basketry and other impressions left in damp pottery while pieces were made in the Neolithic but some new examples have left us puzzled and intrigued. Read more
A pot is for storage and cooking…right?
Jan Blatchford on her surprising discovery - a cordon running across the base of a pot's interior. Read more
Specialists discuss post-excavation strategy for pottery assemblage
Our pottery specialists gathered this week to discuss the way forward with the site's huge ceramic assemblage. 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
Busy times! It’s a veritable research hot-house at the Ness dig HQ
It’s turned into an exceptionally busy week here at Brodgar. Dig HQ is full of ongoing research. And that’s a very good thing. Read more
Pottery residue analysis earns researcher Royal Archaeological Institute prize for science
PhD candidate Julia Becher, who is analysing lipids on Ness of Brodgar pottery sherds, has been awarded the Royal Archaeological Institute prize for science on the archaeology of Britain and Ireland. Read more
Link: Into the Groove…
A blog post by Dr Mike Copper following the rise and demise of Grooved Ware and revealing the insights into the Late Neolithic that this pottery can provide. Read more
First overview of Grooved Ware pottery in 25 years published this week
Revisiting Grooved Ware Understanding Ceramic Trajectories in Britain and Ireland, 3200–2400 cal BC, edited by Mike Copper, Alasdair Whittle and Alison Sheridan, presents a series of papers offering both regional and thematic perspectives on the ceramic style. Read more
