Wednesday wildlife – the calm between the storms
This week’s selection of pictures taken by site director Nick during lulls in the blustery weather.… Read more
About the Ness of Brodgar
The Ness of Brodgar site has been under excavation since 2004, revealing a massive complex of monumental Neolithic buildings dating from the centuries around 3000BC.
Without parallel in Atlantic Europe, the Ness of Brodgar’s three hectares are filled with huge stone structures containing spectacular finds.
These have made the Ness one of the most important archaeological excavations in the world today, changing our understanding of the culture and beliefs of Neolithic Orkney and shining a new light on the prehistory of northern Europe.
The project is mainly funded through the generosity of the public through our two supporting charities the Ness of Brodgar Trust and the American Friends.
Sandfiold: an ‘exceptional’ burial cist in use for almost two millennia
By Sigurd Towrie
Like many Orcadian archaeological sites, the discovery of an “exceptional” [1] prehistoric burial cist at Sandfiold in 1989 was accidental.
Operations to remove sand from the lower… Read more
The passing of a great archaeologist
With great shock and numbing sadness we learned today that archaeologist Caroline Wickham-Jones has passed away.
Caroline, a great supporter of the Ness and Orkney’s archaeology as a whole, will… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – making the most of the winter sun
This week’s photographs from site director Nick Card.
… Read more
Braving the elements to pack artefacts on loan to Stonehenge exhibition
By Anne Mitchell
Yesterday morning, Thursday, January 6, was bitterly cold here at the Ness, with snow on the Hoy hills, a gusty Force Eight blowing across the site and… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – a new year…
It’s been a stormy start to 2022, but fortunately punctuated by a few calmer spells.
During one of these, site director Nick ventured out with his camera to bring us… Read more
The Sandfiold Bronze Age cemetery
“In the Links of Skeall (sic), where sand is blown away with the wind, are found several places built four square, about a foot square, with stones about, well cemented… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – the otter at the bottom of the garden
This week’s photographs from Ness site director Nick Card focus on one of his next door neighbours and a frequent visitor to his garden.… Read more
Maeshowe broadcast to mark the winter solstice
Next Tuesday, December 21, is the winter solstice, and to mark the occasion, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is livestreaming an event celebrating Maeshowe and its midwinter alignment.
With its south-westerly… Read more
Visit Skara Brae virtually with new digital 3D model
A new 3D model of Skara Brae is offering online visitors an immersive digital experience of the 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlement.
The Historic Environment Scotland (HES) model was created using… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – making the most of the scant hours of daylight
This week’s photographic offering from Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card.
… Read more
The Knowes of Trotty – a Bronze Age cemetery and Neolithic settlement site
By Sigurd Towrie
Sitting in an area of marshland in Orkney’s West Mainland are the Knowes of Trotty [*] – a Bronze Age barrow cemetery that is the only one… Read more
British Museum announce objects joining Ness artefacts at Stonehenge exhibition
A selection of artefacts from the Ness of Brodgar are among the hundreds coming together for a special exhibition on Stonehenge at the British Museum next year.
Running from February… Read more
Macehead auction raised £260 for excavation fund
The auction of a wooden replica of a Neolithic macehead has raised £260 for Ness of Brodgar excavation funds.
Created by Orcadian woodturner Michael Sinclair, the stunning macehead and stand… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – watching you watching me
Our weekly selection of photographs from site director Nick Card.… Read more
Tracing the Lines: Uncovering Grooved Ware Trajectories in Neolithic Scotland
Ness stalwart and ceramic specialist Dr Mike Copper is the co-author of a new paper looking at the adoption, development and demise of Neolithic Grooved Ware pottery in Scotland.
Tracing… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – the otter and the eel meal
This week’s photographic selection from site director Nick Card documents one of his aquatic neighbours on the Ness taking to the water and successfully catching a meal!
… Read more
Dates set for 2022 excavation
Next year’s excavation at the Ness of Brodgar will run from Monday, July 4, 2022 until Friday, August 19, 2022.
Naturally these dates depend entirely on pandemic developments but, all… Read more
A detailed look at the life of Structure Twelve
Working through the website a few weeks ago, it became clear that the information on Structure Twelve was sorely lacking!
The building, possibly once one of the most stunning on… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – buffeted by a westerly
This week’s photographs from dig director Nick Card.… Read more
Supporting research at the Ness
One of the ways we can best progress work on the Ness of Brodgar is via student research, particularly at postgraduate level.
If we can at least cover the cost… Read more
Shop additions, a new ‘Sponsor a Find’ fundraiser and Christmas last order dates
We’ve had a busy week and have launched a new fundraiser Sponsor a Find.
The idea is that we periodically give you the choice from several Ness of Brodgar finds… Read more
