The Ness of Brodgar complex
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.
In 2010, an extraordinary macehead emerged from one of the side recesses in Structure Eight.
Regular readers will know that polished stone maceheads – although not a daily discovery –… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – the calm after the storms
The past week has been decidedly unpleasant, weather-wise, but fortunately the sun did peek out on one or two occasions. As always site director Nick Card has been out and… Read more
Focus on finds: maceheads
“[T]he care taken in manufacture suggests that these artefacts, like many others, often have a significance that went beyond utility”
Anderson-Whymark et al. Process, form and time, maceheads in an… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – owl on the prowl
This week’s photographic offering from Ness of Brodgar site director Nick Card.… Read more
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
Wednesday wildlife – longer days and (slightly) better weather
This week’s photographs of the wilder residents of the Ness from site director Nick Card.… Read more
Focus on finds – the Orkney vole
“The picture is far from clear and the dating is incomplete, but what there is indicates that [voles] were trundling ashore at around the same time as people were gathering… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – Stenness shots
This week’s selection of images from Ness of Brodgar dig director Nick Card.… Read more
‘World of Stonehenge’ offers a brief opportunity to step out of our century…
Jo Bourne is a London-based supervisor and photographer at the Ness of Brodgar. In 2013 she uncovered the ‘butterfly’ stone beside the northern annexe of Structure Twelve. We asked her… Read more
Intensely moved by the human stories at launch of ‘World of Stonehenge’
By Dr Antonia Thomas
Tuesday, February 16, and I’m in London for the first time since 2019.
After more than two years – during which I have hardly left Orkney… Read more
The Knap of Howar, Papa Westray
“The site is defined by two stone-built structures, one next to the other, built when the sea was kept at bay by a bank of dunes. Both had been abandoned… Read more
Free article access and talk mark opening of British Museum exhibition
To mark the opening of The World of Stonehenge at the British Museum today, British Archaeology magazine has made an article on the exhibition free to access until February 28,… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – dodging the storms
Wild day. Calm day. And then another wild day…
That seems to have been the picture for 2022 so far. But intrepid site director Nick has been out and about… Read more
Links: ‘The Orkney dig uncovering Britain’s stone age culture’
A few Ness-related links among the many relating to the Burton Agnes “drum” and The World of Stonehenge exhibition at the British Museum.
‘Every year it astounds us’: the Orkney… Read more
Focus on finds – Structure Twelve entrance incised stone
On August 6, 2019, a small, decorated stone was removed from the cell outside the eastern entrance to Structure Twelve.
The stone, measuring 18cm long, was among the rubble removed… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – in and out of the water
This week’s selection of photographs from Ness site director Nick Card.
… Read more
Link: ‘Ness artefacts take centre stage in London’
A new Orkney.com article, by Dave Flanagan, on the Ness’ involvement in the World of Stonehenge exhibition at the British Museum in London.
Click here to view.… Read more
Sponsor a Find – a new batch
Back in November 2021, we launched a new fundraiser Sponsor a Find.
The idea was that we periodically give you the choice from several Ness of Brodgar finds to sponsor… Read more
An absence of antler and the riddle of the red deer – part two
Red deer deposition at the Ness of Brodgar and beyond
Part 2: The riddle of the red deer
By Kath Page
The second part of my University of the Highlands… Read more
Links: Looking forward to the ‘World of Stonehenge’ at the British Museum
With just over a fortnight until the opening of the British Museum’s World of Stonehenge exhibition, here’s a few links you might find interesting:
The world of Stonehenge: placing a… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – braving the elements
Despite the atrocious stormy weather over the weekend, site director Nick Card ventured out and along the lochsides. So here’s this week’s photographic offering showing some equally tenacious birds also… Read more
An absence of antler and the riddle of the red deer – part one
Red deer deposition at the Ness of Brodgar and beyond
Part 1: An absence of antlers
By Kath Page
Anyone researching the Orcadian Neolithic, will at some point invariably end… Read more
Wednesday wildlife – brief encounter
This week’s photographs from site director Nick Card, focusing on one of his neighbours encountered on Sunday by the shore of the Harray loch.
… Read more
Sandfiold: cremation, tomb and cist
“With the discovery of the rock-cut chamber and monumental cist at Sand Fiold, Sandwick, which produced late Neolithic as well as Bronze Age dates, our understanding of Neolithic burial practices… Read more