A sneak peek at Time Team’s initial GPR results
Time Team’s ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey of the Ness excavation is done and dusted.
Mike Langton, from Guideline Geo, headed back south this morning to begin the task of processing the data that will give us a visual representation of the underlying archaeology across the excavation site. This 3d “model” will complement the results of our recent resistivity and magnetometry surveys and, from what we’ve seen so far, the final results will open a new window on the history of the Neolithic complex.
However, with over two gigabytes of GPR sensor readings to work through, processing will take some time, with Time Team unveiling the results in their programme on the Ness due out in 2026.
That said, we can give you a sneak peek at the preliminary result from one small area of the site, and from a single depth slice. It shows what appears to be another large building typical of the c.3100BC piered structures revealed in Trench P over the past 20 years.
The anomaly, which measures in the region of 14 metres by 10 metres, lies to the north-west of Trench P, between Structure Five (Trench J) and Structures One and Fourteen (at the north-western edge of Trench P).
While the kit was being packed away on Thursday afternoon, Time Team’s Dr John Gater described the project as an overwhelming success – one which had produced a “mega set of GPR results” that now needs to be carefully processed and analysed to add to the growing story of the Ness of Brodgar complex.
Site director Nick Card said: “Even the preliminary GPR results look amazing and we look forward with baited breath to seeing the analysed data and combining it with our own geophysical results. I am sure this will be another eye-opener and add considerably to our knowledge of the site and its development.”
Our thanks to Time Team, John Gater, Mike Langton and University of Bradford student Lucy Benoit for their assistance over the past few days.
