Dig diary – a new start at the Ness, even if the weather had other ideas

Day One
Monday, July 6, 2026

After weeks of reasonably summery weather, Monday, July 6, arrived with a very different mood.

Grey skies and a steady drizzle greeted the first day of the 2026 Time Team–funded exploratory dig at the Ness of Brodgar. Not exactly the triumphant start anyone had imagined – but the team wasn’t about to let a bit of rain spoil the excitement.

This year’s excavation crew – Paul, Ben, Ray, Lucy and Sigurd – is considerably smaller than previous years. By 9am they were gathered at Ness HQ, waterproofs on and spirits high. Joining them were Time Team’s John Gater, Jackie McKinley and Emily Boulting, along with local cameraman Fionn McArthur, ready to capture whatever the day might bring.

The first job was to peg out the new trench ahead of the arrival of JCB maestro Calvin Wilson.

Once on site, Calvin set to work peeling back the topsoil with his usual surgical precision and skill. Meanwhile, the rest of the team prepared the site for the season ahead. Interpretation boards were dusted off and returned to their posts, and Anne briefed her Meet‑and‑Greeters for the upcoming four‑week run of visitors.

This year’s trench has been carefully positioned to place the circular anomaly – spotted in last year’s ground‑penetrating radar survey – right at its centre.

The hope is to understand not just the anomaly itself, but any features around it and Calvin’s removal of roughly 30cm of topsoil revealed a surface already showing hints of past activity.

The upper levels of the anomaly lies at least another 30cm below these, so the next stage will be careful hand excavation.

But before any of that could begin, the newly exposed trench surface needed cleaning – an arduous task made no easier by the worsening weather. Still, the team tackled it with good humour and gusto as the rain continued and mud clung stubbornly to boots and tools.

Cleaning the newly exposed trench surface. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)

At 4pm, with no sign of the rain letting up and the mud sticking to boots and tools, site director Nick decided it was time to call it a day. It was a group of soggy, mud‑splattered diggers who made their way back to their vehicles — tired, wet, but undeniably buoyed by the promise of what lies beneath the surface.

Tomorrow, after all, is another day. And at the Ness of Brodgar, you never quite know what the earth is waiting to reveal.