Video: Time Team at the Ness of Brodgar and round about…
A report by Time Team's Martyn Williams during the third week of the 2026 excavation. Read more
Category: Excavation
Time Team podcast – ‘Orkney Neolithic site starts to reveal its secrets’
This week's Time Team podcast, with Helen Geake and Martyn Williams, recorded during week three of the dig, features Jackie McKinley pondering what our Neolithic building might have been and Dani Wootton's potential rock art discovery. Read more
Explore Trench W with Paul’s new 3D model
Hot of the digital press - a splendid new 3d model from Paul Durdin, showing the results of the 2026 excavation. Read more
Diary extra – Trench W on the final day
Drone photograph of Trench W on the final day of the 2026 excavation. Read more
Dig diary – we thought it was all over…it is now
A couple of discoveries on our last day on site. Read more
Dig diary – Structure Forty‑Five confirmed as its neighbour’s architecture and closure clarified
Structure Forty‑Four’s buttresses proved primary; its entrance was deliberately blocked. New walls revealed Structure Forty‑Five, an elaborate doorway and a fine spatulate tool. Read more
Dig diary – A narrower doorway, a deeper hearth and a mystery wall to end the day
Structure Forty‑Four’s entrance, hearth and flooring clarified, but a late‑day curving wall raises eyebrows. Read more
Diary extra – Structure Forty-Four from above
Drone's eye view of Structure Forty-Four at the end of Day 16. Read more
Dig diary – Structure Forty‑Four christened and its monumental entrance revealed
We suspected it was there and the entrance was confirmed today. And may be much bigger than expected! Read more
Dig diary – incised stone brings week three to a close in true Ness style
Week three drew to a close in typical Ness style - with a decorated stone... Read more
Dig diary – reaching the base of the central hearth
Hearth deposits were shallow, more foundation slabs emerged, and excavation confirmed a surrounding gully - all adding to our structure's "very odd” character. Read more
Dig diary – an external working area and possible rock art
Another very productive day on site with excavation in and around the remains of our new building. Read more
Dig diary – stratigraphic detective work
A drain, a hearth and clarifying the story of our new structure. Read more
Dig diary – home is where the hearth is
Today, we can say with confidence that we are looking at a hearth at the centre of a Late Neolithic building in Trench W. Read more
Dig diary – gneiss, soil and a shadow of something taking shape
Today's update from the end of week two. Read more
