Category: Focus on Finds

3D Model / Artefacts / Featured / Focus on Finds

Monday, November 20, 2023

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

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, February 24, 2023

Focus on finds – small clay balls

Three of the Ness of Brodgar’s small clay balls. (📷 Sigurd Towrie) There have been many puzzling finds over the past 20 years of excavation. Among these are a number… Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, March 18, 2022

Focus on finds – Structure Eight’s whalebone macehead

In 2010, an unusual whalebone macehead was found at the Ness. It was part of a cache of artefacts, which included a polished stone axe and a whale tooth. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, March 11, 2022

Focus on finds – maceheads

There is no doubt that the Ness maceheads are among the most beautiful artefacts found on site - often using spectacular rock specifically selected for its visual impact, and sometimes clearly from outwith Orkney. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, March 4, 2022

Focus on finds – Skaill knives (and how to make them)

“There is one type of stone implement very abundant at Skaill. These are flakes of hard old red sandstone. […] One edge is always thicker than the other, which is… Read more

Orkney vole remains from the Ness of Brodgar

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Monday, February 28, 2022

Focus on finds – the Orkney vole

Vole remains found in Neolithic Orkney suggest the rodents arrived between 3455–3100BC, potentially from Belgium, France, or Spain. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, February 11, 2022

Focus on finds – Structure Twelve entrance incised stone

On August 6, 2019, a small decorated stone, measuring 18cm, was taken from near the eastern entrance of Structure Twelve. Read more

Multi-hollowed cobble tool strip. Sigurd Towrie

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, September 25, 2020

Focus on finds – multi-hollowed cobbles

The Ness of Brodgar archeological site revealed multi-hollowed cobble tools, an unglamorous but significant link to everyday life there. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Friday, September 18, 2020

Focus on finds – haematite

Excavations revealed the use of coloured pigments in pottery and walls, specifically using haematite for red hues. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Monday, August 10, 2020

Focus on finds – beads

The Ness site has unearthed a selection of stone and amber beads, showing high-quality craftsmanship. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Monday, August 3, 2020

Focus on finds – worked bone

Due to acidic soil, bone preservation is rare, with surviving pieces often in poor condition. Read more

Three examples of pumice found at the Ness of Brodgar. (Sigurd Towrie)

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Monday, July 20, 2020

Focus on finds – pumice

Pumice, a by-product of volcanic eruptions, played a significant role in Neolithic life, often used for its abrasive qualities. Read more

Artefacts / Focus on Finds

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Focus on finds – bone pin

(📷 Ole Thoenies) This strange worked bone, probably the shaft of a polished pin, was found in Structure Eight on July 22, 2019. We say “strange” because the artefact is… Read more

Artefacts / Excavation / Focus on Finds

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Focus on finds – arrowhead

Arrowhead fragment (📷 Ole Thoenies) The Early Bronze Age barbed-and-tanged arrowhead found in the outer passage of Structure Ten in July 2017. (📷 ORCA) On July 9, 2019, the tip… Read more