Category: Excavation

Friday, July 14, 2023

Dig Diary – Eighteen’s entrance discovered as specialists gather on site

Some of the Ness project specialists outside Structure Ten this afternoon. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) Day TenFriday, July 14, 2023 Week two ended on an exciting note, with a site visit… Read more

Excavation

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Dig Diary – The Odin Stone’s little brother outside Structure Twenty-Six?

Today’s star find – a holed-orthostat incorporated into paving outside Structure Twenty-Six’s eastern end. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) Day NineThursday, July 13, 2023 Structure Twenty-Six has done it again! This later,… Read more

Excavation

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Dig Diary – A special cattle bone deposit, more post-holes and a turf roof?

Day Eight Wednesday, July 12, 2023 It was another wet start today. Sheets of rain buffeted the site as blankets of grey cloud shrouded the hills surrounding the… Read more

Excavation

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Dig Diary – rain, post-holes and more of the ‘Great Wall’

The outer face of the ‘Great Wall’ emerging from the Trench J extension at the close of play today. Outside the wall (to the right of the picture is rubble… Read more

Excavation

Monday, July 10, 2023

Dig Diary – The ‘Great Wall’ emerges from Trench J’s new extension

Day Six Monday, July 10, 2023 The start of week two and another batch of diggers gathered on site this morning – a mix of familiar and new faces. … Read more

Excavation

Monday, July 10, 2023

Diary Extra – Viewing the site from above

A selection of drone photographs from Professor Scott Pike. Click on any picture for an enlargement. … Read more

Excavation / Structures

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Diary Extra – Around Trench P

A selection of photographs from Friday, recording elements of some of Trench P’s structures. For more information on any of the buildings featured, see the Structures section.… Read more

Excavation

Friday, July 7, 2023

Dig Diary – ‘Dressers’, DNA and earlier buildings

Day Five Friday, July 7, 2023 The end of week one already! Where does the time go? Before we get into today’s events, for fans of… Read more

Excavation

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Dig Diary – ‘Structure Five really is turning into something quite special’

Clea and Sarah Jane at work in Structure One this afternoon. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) Day FourThursday, July 6, 2023 What a glorious day. And how good to hear the gentle… Read more

Excavation

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Diary Extra – Pictures from day four

A selection of site photographs from today – hampered somewhat by the bright, contrasty sunshine. Click on any image for an enlargement.… Read more

Excavation

Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Dig Diary – Extending Trench J, buildings beneath Ten and hundreds of visitors

Day Three Wednesday, July 5, 2023 The excavation site opened to the public today and we are delighted to say they turned up in droves. Over… Read more

Excavation

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Diary Extra – Uncovering the site

A few photographs from today. Click on any image for an enlargement.… Read more

Excavation

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Dig Diary – We did it! The entire site is uncovered ready for public opening

Day Two Tuesday, July 4, 2023 We did it! All the structures, in all three trenches, are uncovered ready for a good spruce up tomorrow ahead of excavation resuming. This… Read more

Excavation

Monday, July 3, 2023

Dig Diary – It’s been a damp day shifting tyres, so here’s our plans for 2023

A chain of diggers and volunteers removing the tyres from Trench P. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) Day OneMonday, July 3, 2023 I’m sure we say it every year but this time… Read more

Excavation

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Back on site tomorrow for another seven-week excavation season

Where has the time gone! We’re back on site tomorrow with archaeologists and students from all over the world gathering for another seven weeks of fieldwork. As always, our first… Read more

Excavation

Friday, June 30, 2023

The significance of cattle at the Ness Neolithic complex

The dominance of cattle at the Ness is in contrast with the picture elsewhere in Orkney, where sheep were most common. That cattle were considered significant by Neolithic farmers is clear from bone deposits that reflected the special treatment given to selected remains. Read more

Excavation / Structures

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Investigate Trench T and Structure Twenty-Seven

Not long to go now! Work to uncover the site begins on Monday, but here’s an aerial view of Trench T and Structure Twenty-Seven from 2022. Zoom in, pan, explore… Read more