Category: News

Artefacts / News

Monday, March 25, 2019

Decorated stone fragment recovered from flotation residues

Eagle-eyed Cecily has recovered another beautiful find from the flotation residues. After last week’s tiny bead, this time she has found a small fragment of thin flagstone, unusually decorated on both… Read more

The 2mm carved stone bead from Structure Twenty-Six.

Artefacts / News

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Ness’s smallest bead measures just 2mm in diameter

Sometimes it’s the small things that astound — like this tiny stone bead discovered today. Measuring circa 2mm in diameter, the bead must have taken a steady hand and a… Read more

An example of the detail captured on an RTI model - this one showing an incised stone from the Ness. (Michael Sharpe)

Artefacts / Featured / News

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Putting decorated pot, and more, under multiple spotlights!

To the uninitiated, it might look as though Chris Marshall (right) has secured a sci-fi prop from a 1970s BBC TV programme (Blake’s Seven anyone?) What he is actually doing is… Read more

Monday, March 4, 2019

Dig director bound for China

Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card is bound for China next week, to take part in a workshop on heritage management. Nick will travel to Xi’an for the event… Read more

The update for diggers began at Trench T this morning.

Monday, February 25, 2019

No more volunteer spaces for 2019 dig

Thank you to all who have been in touch asking about volunteering opportunities at the 2019 excavation. All available places are now full. We have had hundreds of inquiries over… Read more

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Congratulations Dr Johnson…

All the team at the Ness would like to send our congratulations to our resident geologist, who has been awarded her PhD. Dr Martha Johnson has worked at the Ness… Read more

Considering carved stone balls in British Archaeology issue 165. (Pic: Hugo Anderson-Whymark)

Artefacts / News

Saturday, February 9, 2019

New article ponders the mystery of carved stone balls

Ness director Nick Card is pictured (right) in an article in the latest edition of British Archaeology magazine on the enigmatic carved stone balls of Scotland. Over 200 carved stone… Read more

Thursday, January 24, 2019

3D printing the Ness of Brodgar

At the end of last season, we mentioned the tremendous work done by Jim Bright, our photogrammetry expert, and Mark Newton, who produces wonderful physical 3D models from his printer.… Read more

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

2019 volunteer slots filled but still some places for experienced diggers

With six months to go until we resume excavation, the interest shown by people looking to volunteer on site in 2019 has again been overwhelming. Site director Nick has confirmed… Read more

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Helping inspire a new generation of archaeologists

An important element of the Ness of Brodgar excavations is allowing people to experience the site, the artefacts found to date and keeping everyone up to date with the latest… Read more

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Volunteers – the dig’s unsung heroes

Over the years, you will have read about many of the volunteers who make the eight-week excavation season happen. They dig, work on finds, run the shop, meet and greet… Read more

Friday, December 28, 2018

Ness newsletter archive updated

The first three of the four 2018 Ness newsletters are now available to download as PDFs.… Read more

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Survey closed – thank you one and all

It’s the week before Christmas and time to leave you all in peace. Thank you for participating in our visitor survey, which closed this afternoon. We have received some very… Read more

Structure Eight this afternoon.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Ness of Brodgar 2019 dig dates confirmed

The dates for next year’s eight-week excavation season have been confirmed. Provided our funding plans come together, diggers will be back on site between Monday, July 1, 2019 until Friday,… Read more

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Xmas shopping online? You could help fund the dig…

With Christmas just a month away, if you’re heading online to start stocking up on presents, you could help fundraise for the Ness of Brodgar Trust at the same time!… Read more

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Sale of donated artwork will boost dig funds by £5k

Calling all art lovers with an interest in helping secure the future of the Ness project. The artist Philip Hughes has donated two beautiful pieces of art for the Ness… Read more

A look back to 1966…

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

A look back to 1966…

Nothing specifically Ness related in this brilliant piece of film,, but some lovely views of Skara Brae, Maeshowe and the Ring of Brodgar. https://tv.nrk.no/serie/sommerbrev-fra-vesterled/FOLA66001166/27-09-1966… Read more

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

From Stirling Castle to the Ness of Brodgar…

Neil Oliver chooses five fascinating places to visit in Britain Click here to read the full article from BBC History Extra. To listen to the podcast, click here.… Read more

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Ross at the Ness of Brodgar…

Among the 160 diggers working at the Ness this summer was Ross Drummond, an MSc student studying archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands. Ross’s Ness experience was one… Read more

Karen Wallis: Pigment samples in progress.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

From the Art Hut

This year the Art Hut was upgraded from the wooden shed of last year to a large portacabin generously supplied by Orkney Aggregates – and the number of artists increased… Read more

Thursday, August 16, 2018

The end is nigh…can you help?

As we enter the last week of the 2018 season, we would like to ask for some help from anyone free on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week (August 22, 23 and… Read more

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

The Ness in the news…

Some links to recent news stories and articles: Elisabeth Holder – Working Away British Archaeology Magazine – the printed magazine features a review of Woody Musgrove’s new book, Ness of… Read more