From bones to geophysics – head to Stenness on Sunday for Ness open day

Post-excavation work at the Ness will be in the spotlight at our open day in the Stenness school on Sunday.

• See some of the artefacts up close.
• Learn how post-excavation analysis is helping piece together the full story.
• Explore displays that bring the past to life.

So pop along, from 11am until 4pm, to chat to the archaeologists and hear the latest from our specialists:

• Meet and speak with Nick Card, Anne Mitchell and Sigurd Towrie about the Ness and ongoing work.
• Gary Lloyd, Martha Johnson, Mark Edmonds, Antonia Thomas: stone tools, rocks and walls, flint, decorated stone and what happens when excavation is over. 
• Jan Blatchford and Roy Towers, our pottery specialists, will outline their analysis of the ceramic assemblage for clues to pot use, decoration, manufacture, dates and much more, while Ray Mitchell and Carolyn Ellison will explain the pot triage project and preparing what’s been found for specialist examination.
• Sarah Carter, Ros Fisher and Alison Gough: making and decorating pots.
• Ingrid Mainland, Julia Cussans and Gianluca Marzagalli: animal bone and what it can tell us about our Neolithic farming past.
• Chris Gee: decorating stone at the Ness – how might it have been done? 
• Cecily Webster and Sally Hallam: tiny finds and how we get to them.
• Kath Page: antler and the story of deer at the Ness, so far.
• Jeanne Rose: try your hand at Neolithic designs and colour.
• Katy Firth: build the Ness with Lego.

The Ness fundraising shop will also put in an appearance, as will the Stenness Community Association’s Ness café, with soup, sandwiches, filled rolls and home-bakes.

And while you’re in Stenness, drop in to the Maeshowe visitor centre next door for the exhibition of Ness of Brodgar images and information.